WHY HEBREW NAMES?  

        Some may wonder why Nazarene Israelites or Messianics like to have a "Hebrew" name or a Hebraic form of an already existing birth name.  I hope that this article will briefly explain why many of us practice this.

        All over the scriptures there are instances of  the "set-apart" men of old who underwent "name changes."  (SEE OBJECTION 1 BEFORE READING FURTHER)  The first we see is Abram - 

Bereshite/Gen:17:1-5: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Master appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty YHWH; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.And Abram fell on his face: and YHWH talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. (and Sarai, Abram's wife was changed to Sarah!)

        Abraham went through a name change.  We also see this same thing happening to Jacob/Yacov - Gen:32:28: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with YHWH and with men, and hast prevailed.

In fact, all over the scriptures we see this phenomena. It is not just relegated to the TaNaK/OT either. We find it in the Messianic Scripture/NT as well.  Saul became Paul/Sha'ul. And Simon became Peter/Kepha. 

          If we jump to the end of times, we find this spoken in Revelation : Rv:2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. It seems that everyone will have a new name eventually.  Perhaps we will need them because language is so corrupted that only a pure new name will do.

      Nazarene Israelites and Messianics understand the paganism in our language and wish not only to return to the pure ways of the original faith of the apostles and prophets, but also wish to return to the PURE language as well. The question then is asked as to what this language is.  We understand that the Sages from the house of Judah/Jews agree and other scholars concur that this language is HEBREW.  This is the language our Master Yahshua knew and used day by day to instruct His Talmidim/disciples.  It is also the language of which the Torah/Law was printed and  handed down to Moses, from the very finger of the ALMIGHTY. The House of Judah has preserved this language over many centuries. It is therefore our contention that it will be that one language that will be in use after the curse of the tower of Babel is broken when the Messiah returns to rule and reign on earth for 1000 years, initiating the millennial Sabbath rest -"For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah(YHWH), to serve him with one consent." Zephaniah 3:9 ~~Darby Translation~~  (can there be any dispute this language will be Hebrew?)

        Perhaps now you understand better why we might choose a "new name" for ourselves, one which is Hebrew in origin or some Hebraicized form of an already existing one.  Names such a Ya'cob, Yohanan, Edri and many others are simply expressions of our deep, and intense LOVE of the Language of our Master, and his apostles as well as that language which will be spoken during the Millennial reign of the Master Yahshua.

HMI Administrator

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