from ὄνομα; to name, i.e. assign an appellation; by extension, to utter, mention, profess:--call, name.
Transliteration:onomázō
Pronunciation:on-om-ad'-zo
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ὀνομάζω (onomázō, `{{G3687}}`) is derived directly from the noun ὄνομα (onoma, `{{G3686}}`), meaning "name." At its core, onomázō signifies the act of "to name," or "to give a name." This primary sense involves assigning an appellation, thereby identifying or designating a person, place, or thing.
Beyond this literal act of naming, the semantic range of onomázō extends to include:
* **To utter or mention:** This refers to the act of speaking or invoking a name, bringing it into discourse.
* **To profess or acknowledge:** In this sense, onomázō implies a public declaration or identification with something or someone by name, often denoting allegiance, recognition, or association.
The act of naming in the biblical world carries profound significance, often conferring identity, authority, destiny, or ownership. Thus, onomázō is not merely about labeling but about defining and establishing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of onomázō in the New Testament illustrate its diverse applications, from simple designation to theological declaration:
* **Designation and Authority:** In [[Luke 6:13]], Jesus "chose twelve of them, whom he also **named** apostles." Here, onomázō highlights Christ's authority to designate and commission those who would serve as His foundational witnesses. This act of naming is an act of empowerment and assignment of a specific role.
* **Identity and Affiliation:** [[Acts 11:26]] states, "And in Antioch the disciples were first **called** Christians." This verse marks a pivotal moment where followers of Christ received a distinct identity, onomázō here indicating the public appellation that distinguished them from other groups. It signifies their allegiance to Christ.
* **Preaching and Establishing the Gospel:** Paul uses onomázō in [[Romans 15:20]] to describe his missionary principle: "I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been **named**." This implies establishing the gospel where Christ's name (and thus His message and authority) is unknown, rather than building on another's foundation.
* **Christ's Supremacy:** In [[Ephesians 1:21]], Paul extols Christ as being "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is **named**." This emphasizes the absolute supremacy of Christ's name, signifying His preeminence over all created beings and powers, whether earthly or spiritual, present or future.
* **Ethical Purity and Separation:** The strong admonition in [[Ephesians 5:3]] states, "But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be **named** among you, as is proper among saints." Here, onomázō conveys that such vices should be utterly alien to the Christian community's conduct and discourse, to the extent that their very mention should be anathema among believers. It underscores the call to radical holiness and separation from worldly practices.
* **Professing Faith and Righteous Conduct:** [[2 Timothy 2:19]] declares, "Let everyone who **names** the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." This is a crucial theological statement. To "name the name of the Lord" signifies a public profession of faith and allegiance to God. The verb onomázō here implies an active acknowledgment and identification with the Lord. Critically, this profession is inextricably linked to a corresponding ethical imperative: to depart from unrighteousness. True confession demands a transformed life.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding onomázō is enhanced by examining its relationship with other key terms:
* **ὄνομα (onoma, `{{G3686}}`):** The foundational noun "name." Onomázō is the verb form of this noun, highlighting the action associated with a name. The significance of a name in biblical thought (representing character, authority, identity) directly informs the meaning of onomázō.
* **καλέω (kaleō, `{{G2564}}`):** "To call, invite." While kaleō can sometimes overlap in translation with "to name" (e.g., "to be called by a name"), onomázō specifically emphasizes the act of assigning or uttering a name, or professing by a name. Kaleō has a broader range, including summoning or inviting.
* **ἐπικαλέω (epikaleō, `{{G1941}}`):** "To call upon, invoke." This term often refers to invoking a name, particularly in prayer or appeal. The act of "naming the name of the Lord" in [[2 Timothy 2:19]] carries a similar sense of invocation and allegiance, closely related to epikaleō.
* **Identity:** The act of naming is intrinsically linked to identity. Whether it's Jesus naming His apostles or disciples being named "Christians," onomázō underscores the establishment of a distinct identity.
* **Authority and Ownership:** Naming often signifies a claim of authority or ownership over the named. God's naming of creation, or Jesus naming His disciples, are acts of sovereign designation.
* **Reputation and Character:** A name often encapsulates one's reputation, character, or essence. To "name" something (or not to name it) can reflect its nature or how it is perceived within a community.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of onomázō is profound, touching upon divine authority, Christian identity, and ethical conduct:
* **Divine Prerogative in Naming:** While onomázō is not extensively used for God's own acts of naming in the New Testament (e.g., Adam naming animals, God naming Abraham), the concept that naming is an act of divine sovereignty is foundational. God's act of naming confers being and purpose.
* **Christ's Authority and Supremacy:** Jesus' act of "naming" the apostles (Luke 6:13) is a clear demonstration of His divine authority to choose, commission, and empower. Furthermore, the declaration that Christ's name is "above every name that is named" (Ephesians 1:21) underscores His unparalleled supremacy and absolute dominion over all creation, both seen and unseen. This highlights the unique authority resident in the very name of Jesus.
* **The Essence of Christian Identity:** Being "called Christians" (Acts 11:26) through the use of onomázō signifies a deep theological truth: a new identity forged in allegiance to Christ. This is not merely a label but a reflection of a transformed life and a new covenant relationship.
* **The Purity of Christian Conduct:** The imperative not to "name" certain vices among believers (Ephesians 5:3) is a powerful call to radical holiness. It implies that these sinful practices are so antithetical to the nature of God's people that they should not even be mentioned or acknowledged as a possibility within the community. This underscores the demand for a distinct and sanctified lifestyle that sets believers apart from the world.
* **The Demands of Professing Christ:** Perhaps most profoundly, onomázō in [[2 Timothy 2:19]] links the public profession of faith ("everyone who names the name of the Lord") directly to the ethical demand for holiness ("depart from iniquity"). This verse encapsulates the New Testament's consistent teaching that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative commitment that manifests in righteous living. To "name the Lord's name" without departing from sin is a contradiction, undermining the very essence of that profession.
### Summary
The Greek verb ὀνομάζω (onomázō, `{{G3687}}`) carries a rich semantic range, moving from the literal act of "to name" or "to assign an appellation" to the broader concepts of "to utter or mention" and "to profess or acknowledge." Rooted in the noun ὄνομα (onoma, `{{G3686}}`), onomázō in the New Testament consistently highlights the significance of identity, authority, and allegiance.
Biblical occurrences demonstrate its use in designating individuals (Jesus naming apostles, [[Luke 6:13]]), establishing new identities (disciples "called Christians," [[Acts 11:26]]), defining missionary scope (Paul not preaching where Christ was already "named," [[Romans 15:20]]), asserting Christ's ultimate supremacy (His name above all names "named," [[Ephesians 1:21]]), demanding ethical purity (vices not to be "named" among saints, [[Ephesians 5:3]]), and crucially, linking the profession of faith to a life of holiness ("everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity," [[2 Timothy 2:19]]).
Theologically, onomázō underscores the profound weight of names, particularly the name of Christ, as a source of authority and a marker of identity. It emphasizes that a verbal profession of faith must be accompanied by a corresponding transformation of life, reflecting the character of the One whose name is invoked.
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