📖 Biblical Definition
The Name of YHWH is, in biblical thought, far more than a label. It carries His revealed character, His present-active presence, and His authority. To call upon the Name is to invoke YHWH Himself: "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved" (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13). To honor the Name is to honor Him (Malachi 1:11); to profane the Name is to profane Him (Ezekiel 36:20-23). The third commandment guards it: "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exodus 20:7). Christ comes "in the name of the LORD" (Psalm 118:26; Matthew 21:9) — He is the Name revealed.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The Name as carrier of YHWH's character, presence, authority.
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Hebrew theology of shem (name): the name of YHWH carries His revealed character, presence, and authority. To call upon the Name (Gen 4:26) is to invoke YHWH; to bear the Name (Aaronic blessing, Num 6:27) is to be His; to profane the Name (Lev 22:32) is to dishonor Him. The third commandment forbids taking the Name in vain. Christ teaches the saint to pray "hallowed be thy name" first (Matt 6:9). The Name conceals and reveals at once.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 3:15 — "And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers... hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations."
Proverbs 18:10 — "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."
Philippians 2:9-10 — "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern usage of "name" as label loses the carrier-of-character force the Hebrew gives.
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We treat names as labels — convenient handles for identification. Hebrew shem is denser: name carries character. To know the name is to know the person. To pray in someone's name is to invoke their authority and character.
Recover the depth: "hallowed be thy name" is not asking that more people use the four letters YHWH; it is asking that His character and authority be honored on earth as in heaven.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew shem; Greek onoma.
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['Hebrew', 'H8034', 'shem', 'name']
['Greek', 'G3686', 'onoma', 'name']
Usage
"Name of the LORD is a strong tower."
"Hallowed be thy name — first petition."
"Name carries character; name invokes authority."