Merari: Son of Levi and Ancestor of Judith
According to the Abarim Publications website (a dubious theological source but good for etymology), the name Merari (מררי), means “bitter” or “strong” (as in having a strong taste) in Hebrew: “The name Merari, like other Levite...
Resen: One of the Cities of Nimrod
Resen is a city mentioned in Genesis 10:12: “Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And t...
Who is Asaph in the Bible? A minister and psalmist of David
The name “Asaph” is Hebrew for “gather”. It is used three times in the Bible, and may refer to any of several figures. But the main one that people are generally interested in is the Asaph who is attributed a number of the psal...
Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz, the Son of the Prophet Isaiah
The book of Isaiah features a long name: Maher-Shala-Hash-Baz. It is often considered the longest name in the Bible, though that depends on how you count. It first occurs in Isaiah 8:1: “Moreover the Lord said to me, ‘Take a la...
Plant of Fertility and Magic: Are mandrakes in the Bible?
The mandrake is mentioned in two places in the Bible: in an episode between Rachel and Leah concerning fertility, and in the Song of Solomon. The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs or the Canticle of Canticles, is...
What is the meaning of Jehovah Shammah?
Jehovah Shammah is a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase יְהוָה שָׁמָּה, which means “God is there.” The phrase is the same as “Yahweh Shammah” because “Jehovah” and “Yahweh” are both variations of the same Hebrew word. Ancie...
Abdiel: Milton's Angel who Scorned the Devil - By a PhD
The name “Abdiel” appears in the Bible only one time, in 1 Chronicles 5:15: “Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of their father’s house” (NJKV). In this passage, Abdiel appears as someone’s father in a genealogy,...
Pentagram vs Star of David: Symbolism Historical and Modern
While modern people tend to associate the pentagram with the devil, satanism, or magic in general, it’s important to realize that the pentagram is a perennial symbol that’s been used in huge range of cultural contexts for all o...