1. Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude) (Genesis 17:5)
2. Sarai (dominative or guiding influence) to Sarah (lady, princess, queen) (Genesis 17:15)
3. Jacob (heel catcher) to Israel (he will rule as God) (Genesis 32:28)
Before we begin to look at these three people, let us note that God in the Hebrew has several names listed in the Old Testament. They are in the strongs concordance:
H3068 Jehovah (eternal) (Genesis 2:4)
H7706 El Shaddai (Almighty) (Genesis 17:1)
H430 Elohim (Supreme God) (Genesis 1:1)
And of course there are several more.
However in the word "Jehovah" the "ah" literally means "to swear by an oath". In El Shaddai, the "el" literally means strength or power and in Elohim the "im" means more then one. So the name El-oh-im simply means "one with strength, one that swears by an oath or more then one (e.g. trinity).
And the name Jehovah simply means "LORD" with the "ah" to follow, meaning "an oath". Jehovah and Elohim are names for His strength, and for his swearing by an oath. Everything God declares is truth, and everything he declares is final. What ever He saith is binding as an oath. His Word is "yea and Amen". Never a maybe
It would be beneficial to see how many of God's people in Scripture have an "el" or an "ah" in their names. Here are some just to name a few:
Samuel, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Nehemiah, Josiah, Micah, Obadiah, Isaiah, Zephiniah, Zechariah, Jeremiah and even Nahum.
Now let us consider Abram, Sarai and Jacob who later are known as Abraham, Sarah, and Israel. What is significant in their name changes, the "ah" and "el" insertions.
1. Abram to Abraham Genesis 17:5 "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but they name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee."
God again promised to make Abram a father of many nations and then changed his name to Abraham (father of a multitude) instead of Abram (exalted father). God here is stressing that his covenant was not only with Abraham, but with "thy seed after thee" as an everlasting covenant. God also states that Canaan will be an everlasting possession, so it is clear that no action can ever permanently sever the land from His future people (the Jews).
For this promise, God here in Genesis 17:5 changed Abram to Abraham which you will notice inserts the "ah" into his name. The "ah" is an oath never to be broken because the Lord hath spoken it.
2. Sarai to Sarah - Genesis 17:15 "And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be."
After Sarai being barren for 90 some years, the Lord now blesses her with a son named Isaac. Sarai which means "princess" is now to become Sarah "mother of nations". You remember how God promised Abraham that his covenant was with Isaac and his seed. So we see now at this wondrous birth of Isaac by a woman beyond her child-bearing years, that God changes her name. And what is different in her name? The "ai" becomes "ah", once again the "oath of God" concerning Abraham and his seed right to the end of the age. Sarah is the "mother of nations", a woman who was truly blessed to be the mother of all the Jewish people.
3. Jacob to Israel - Genesis 32:28 "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."
Jacob's name means "supplanter" or "trickster" and it now becomes "Israel". "Ish" meaning man and "el" meaning strength and power. Here Jacob becomes the man of strength, the man who prevails. Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes which make the nations of Israel. And through one of his sons, namely Judah. would ultimately come the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Saviour of the whole world.
For the Lord hath sworn by an oath and by his strength and power, the nation of Israel will continue. So Jacob, now Israel, has in his name "el" and when God is on your side, who can fight against that?
So in these three names we see the promises of God in relation to the nation of Israel. And these promises are all confirmed to these three with God's name imbedded right into theirs. "el" and "ah".
Also we will look at the new testament and see why Saul was renamed Paul and Simon renamed Peter.
We might also say that Abraham, Sarah, and Israel name changes deal with the Jews. And Saul (asked) to Paul (little) and Simon (hearing) to Peter (rock) name changes deal with the gentile or more specifically the church.
THE 12 SONS OF JACOB
The meaning of the names of the twelve sons of Jacob paint a wonderful picture of the believer, from conversion to his ultimate departure to meet the Lord.
The first son was born to Leah and was "Reuben" whose name means "See a Son". It was The Lord Jesus Christ who, by the shedding of his precious blood, and his death on the cross, atoned for the sins of the world and now offers salvation to whosoever will come unto him.
The second son born to Leah was "Simeon" whose name means "Hearing". Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. One has too "hear" the gospel message before he can call upon the Lord Jesus to save him from his sins.
The third son born to Leah was "Levi" and it means "joined". First was The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, then we heard the message, then after responding to the gospel call "we are joined" unto Christ. Forever linked with him for all eternity.
The fourth son born to Leah was "Judah" and it means "praise". What else flows from the lips of the regenerated sinner, but "praise" unto our God for saving a wretch like me?
The fifth son, who was born to Bilhah, was "Dan" and it means "judging". Now we see the new believer continuing in the scriptures and daily learning of His great love and receiving the wisdom to "discern and judge" in spiritual matters. Oh what a different view of things we have now than when we were yet in our sin.
The sixth son, born unto Bilhah, was "Napthali" and his name means "wrestling". Oh, by far, Christians are far from perfect. It is a growing process. Sometimes we shy away from the Lord's correction in our lives and we "do our own thing". We know what is "right" but we do not want to give up all to the Lord's guiding. So we "wrestle" with the Lord. "No, not now Lord". But ultimately we know who wins this "wrestling" match.
Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
The seventh son, who was born to Zilpah, was named "Gad" . His name means "troop". The "troop" here is also rendered as an "assembled gathering". Yes, the Christian believer does not stand alone, he is encouraged in Scripture to "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together". Christians need each other.
The eighth son, born to Zilpah, was "Asher" and his name means "happy". A Christian can only be happy if he reads the Word of God daily and obeys all the Lord's word the comfort and encouragement of other believers adds to the "happiness" of the Christian believer.
The ninth son was born to Leah, and he was "Issachar". His name means "hire or reward". Here we see the Christian active in the Lord's service, seeing some fruit for his labour. Some dear soul may respond to the message of salvation. The Lord will "reward" whatsoever we do in his name, whether now or in the future.
The tenth son, born to Leah, was "Zebulon" and his name means "dwelling". Although we live here on planet earth, our real home is in "heaven". This is our "dwelling place" and if we keep that in mind, the things of earth will "grow strangely dim".
The eleventh son, born to Rachel, was "Joseph" and his name means "adding".
As we read in Acts 2:47 .......And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved".
We can only plant the seed. It is the Lord who will make it grow. He is the "fisher of men" who reaches unto all and beckons all to come unto him. He "adds" those that should be saved.
The twelfth son, born to Rachel, was "Benjamin" which means "Son of my right hand". Here is the end of the story, the end of this journey on earth. Forever and ever in the Lord's presence, seated as it were, at his right hand. Sons of God by adoption.
(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name
Surely if these sons were born in a different order this picture may not have made sense, but we know who wrote the greatest book of all time, and He never makes a mistake and is under control of all things.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life".