What’s in a Name?

Our names identify us. With more than 7.5 billion people in this world, it is my name that marks and differentiates me from the rest of humanity. My name affirms that I am an individual, unique, one of a kind. And my name tells a story—the story of my life.

Each name in this genealogy tells a story. This genealogy also appears in 1 Chronicles 2:5–15, Matthew 1:3–6, and Luke 3:31–33. It includes 10 generations and spans some 850 years (1885–1040 BC). The first five names—Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, and Nahshon (4:19–20)—cover some 450 years from the start of the Egyptian slavery to the time of Moses. The last five names—Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David (4:20–22)—cover 400 years from Joshua to the closing years of the judges.

As we have already seen, Perez was the son of Judah through Tamar (Genesis 38:12–30). Perez and his son Hezron were among the family of Jacob that went into Egypt (46:12). Nothing specific is mentioned about Ram (Ruth 4:19, 1 Chronicles 2:9).

Amminadab and Nahson were the father-in-law and brother-in-law of Aaron (Exodus 6:23). We are told that Nahshon was also the head and leader of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 1:7; 10:14; 1 Chronicles 2:10); rabbinic tradition credits him with exceptional courage as the first Israelite to enter the Red Sea. Only then did the waters part and the Israelites believe it was safe to cross.

The Bible tells us nothing about who Salmon was or what he did, other than being “the father of Boaz” (Ruth 4:21). Matthew 1:5 says that Boaz’s mother was Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute from Jericho. But Rahab is not Salmon’s wife; she lived in Joshua’s time, about 250 to 300 years earlier. Rahab was Boaz’s “mother” in the sense that she was his ancestress, not his birth mother, in the same way that “Abraham is our father” (John 8:39).

Boaz is named “the father of Obed” instead of Mahlon or Elimelek. This is significant, considering that Boaz is supposed to produce an heir for Mahlon. Perhaps this is God’s way of rewarding Boaz for his willingness to be guardian-redeemer. Jesse’s story is told in 1 Samuel 16 and 17.

Every name has a story. We may not know the stories of people like Ram and Salmon. Their stories are not told to us. But they have been named. And God knows their stories.

You are named. And God knows your name. “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you . . . he who formed you . . . ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1). Redeemed and named. More importantly, God knows your story. In fact, He is writing it (Psalm 139:16).

Think Through:

Taken from Journey Through Ruth: 30 Biblical Insights by Sim Kay Tee.