Name changes in the Bible
In the Bible a new name often marks a new beginning. Some were given by God, some by kings who conquered, and one woman renamed herself.
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.Genesis 17:5 (KJV)
Every major name change
| Old name | New name | Given by | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abram | Abraham | God | Genesis 17:5 |
| Sarai | Sarah | God | Genesis 17:15 |
| Jacob | Israel | God | Genesis 32:28; 35:10 |
| Joseph | Zaphnath-paaneah | Pharaoh | Genesis 41:45 |
| Oshea (Hoshea) | Jehoshua (Joshua) | Moses | Numbers 13:16 |
| Gideon | Jerubbaal | His father, Joash | Judges 6:32 |
| Naomi | Mara | Naomi herself | Ruth 1:20 |
| Solomon | Jedidiah | The LORD, through Nathan | 2 Samuel 12:24–25 |
| Daniel | Belteshazzar | The prince of the eunuchs in Babylon | Daniel 1:7 |
| Hananiah | Shadrach | The prince of the eunuchs | Daniel 1:7 |
| Mishael | Meshach | The prince of the eunuchs | Daniel 1:7 |
| Azariah | Abednego | The prince of the eunuchs | Daniel 1:7 |
| Eliakim | Jehoiakim | Pharaoh-nechoh | 2 Kings 23:34 |
| Mattaniah | Zedekiah | The king of Babylon | 2 Kings 24:17 |
| Simon | Cephas (Peter) | Jesus | John 1:42 |
| James and John | Boanerges, “the sons of thunder” | Jesus | Mark 3:17 |
| Joses | Barnabas | The apostles | Acts 4:36 |
Three worth knowing
Jacob becomes Israel
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.Genesis 32:28 (KJV)
Naomi asks to be called Mara
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.Ruth 1:20 (KJV)
Simon is called Cephas
And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.John 1:42 (KJV)
What about Saul and Paul?
Many people say God changed Saul's name to Paul. Acts never says that. It simply says “Saul, (who also is called Paul,)” (Acts 13:9), and from then on Luke calls him Paul.
Prompts like “Name someone whose name was changed in the Bible” come up in Overflow Bible. Gideon and Naomi score far more than Abraham.