Greek · G3686 · unreviewed
ὄνομα
A "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
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ὄνομα G3686
Pronunciation ónoma
What does ὄνομα (ónoma) mean in the Bible?
ὄνομα (ónoma) is a Greek word meaning "a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)". ὄνομα, -τος, τό, [in LXX chiefly for שֵׁם ;] __1. Represents Christ’s authority and identity. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah, Redemption.
Meaning
a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
In biblical usage, name represents the person's authority, character, and divine attributes, not mere designation.
1in general, the name by which a person or thing is called: Mat.10:2, Mrk.3:16, Luk.1:63, Jhn.18:10, al.; ἄνθρωπος (etc.), ᾧ (οὗ) ὄ. (τ. ὄ), sc. ἦν or ἐστίν (BL, §30, 3), Mrk.14:32, Luk.1:26, 27; with same ellipsis, καὶ τ. ὄ. αὐτοῦ, Luk.1:5, Jhn.1:6, al.; ὀνόματι, before nom. prop., Mat.27:32, Mrk.5:22, Luk.1:5, Act.5:1, al.; accusative absol. (Bl., §34, 7), τοὔνομα (= τ. ὄνομα), Mat.27:57; ὄ. μοι (sc. ἐστίν; cf. Hom., Od., ix, 366), Mrk.5:9 (cf. Luk.8:30); ἔξειν ὄ., Rev.9:11; καλεῖν (ἐπιτιθέναι) ὄ. (Bl., §33, 1), Mat.1:21, Mrk.3:16; τ. ὄ. ἐν (τ.) βίβλῳ ζωῆς (cf. Deiss., LAE, 121), Php.4:3, Rev.13:8, cf. Luk.10:20 (ἐν τ. οὐρανοῖς); ὄ. βλασφημίας, Rev.13:1; the name as opposite to the reality, Rev.3:1 (cf. Hdt., vii, 138); as a title: Eph.1:21, Php.2:9, 10 (Lft., in l.).
2By a usage similar to that with ref. to Heb. שֵׁם (Lft., Notes, 106f.), but also common in Hellenistic (M, Pr., 100; Bl., §39, 4; Deiss, BS, 146f., 196f.; LAE, 123:4, of all that the name implies, of rank, authority, character, etc.: of acting on one's authority or in his behalf, ἐν (εἰς) ὄ., with genitive of person(s) (see reff. supr.), Mat.10:41 21:9 28:19, Mrk.11:9, Luk.13:35, Jhn.5:43, Act.8:16, 1Co.1:13; of the name Christian, 1Pe.4:16; esp. of the name of God as expressing the divine attributes: ἁγιάζειν (ἅγιον) τὸ ὄ. (τ. Πατρός, Κυρίου), Mat.6:9, Luk.1:49 11:2; ψάλλειν (ὁμολογεῖν) τῷ ὀ., Rom.15:9, Heb.13:15; δοξάζειν (φανεροῦν, φοβεῖσθαι) τὸ ὄ., Jhn.12:28 17:6, 26 Rev.11:18 15:4; βλασφημεῖν, Rom.2:24, 1Ti.6:1, Rev.13:6; similarly, of the name of Christ: τ. καλὂν ὄ. (Deiss., LAE, 276); πιστεύειν τῷ ὀ., 1Jn.3:23; π. εἰς τ. ὄ. (Bl., §39, 4), Jhn.1:12 2:23 3:18; ὀνομάζειν τὸ ὄ., 2Ti.2:19; κρατεῖν, Rev.2:13; οὐκ ἀρνεῖσθαι, Rev.3:8; ἐν τ. ὀ. (see reff. supr.), Mrk.9:38 16:[17], Luk.10:17, Jhn.14:13 16:23, 24 20:31, Act.3:6 4:12, Eph.5:20, 1Pe.4:14, al.; εἰς τ. ὄ. συνάγεσθαι, Mat.18:20; ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀ., Mat.19:29; διὰ τὸ ὄ., Mat.10:22, Mrk.13:13, al.; διὰ τοῦ ὀ., 1Co.1:10; ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀ., Act.9:16, Rom.1:5, al.; id. absol., Act.5:41, 3Jo.7; πρὸς τὸ ὄ., Act.26:9.
3cause, ground, reason (in cl., usually in bad sense, pretext): Mrk.9:41 (Swete, in l.; Dalman, Words, 305f.).
Why This Word Matters
Represents Christ’s authority and identity. 1 John 2:12-14
Authority and salvation are grounded in Christ’s name. Acts 16:16-24
Authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 19:11-20
Highlights the authority vested in Jesus’ person. Acts 21:7-14
Expresses allegiance to Jesus’ person and lordship. Acts 3:1-10
Healing occurs in the name of Jesus, emphasizing that His authority and presence stand behind the miracle. Acts 4:1-12
The authority and saving power belong uniquely to Jesus’ name. Acts 4:13-22
The conflict centers on the authority of Jesus’ name, underscoring its saving significance. Acts 5:27-42
Suffering is endured for Jesus’ name, emphasizing allegiance to His authority.
Forgiveness is grounded in who Christ is and what He has done, not in human worthiness.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 6:9 · Mark 5:9 · Mark 6:14 · Mark 14:32 · Luke 1:5 · Luke 1:26 · Luke 1:27 · Luke 1:49 · Luke 1:63 · Luke 2:21 · Luke 2:25 · Luke 8:30 · Luke 8:41 · Luke 11:2 · Luke 24:13 · John 1:6 37×
Nominative · Plural · Neuter Matt 10:2 · Luke 10:20 · Phil 4:3 · Rev 11:13 4×
Genitive · Singular · Neuter Matt 19:29 · Luke 21:12 · Acts 3:16 · Acts 4:30 · Acts 5:41 · Acts 8:12 · Acts 9:16 · Acts 10:43 · Acts 15:26 · Acts 21:13 · Rom 1:5 · 1 Cor 1:10 · Eph 1:21 · 3 John 1:7 · Rev 13:17 · Rev 14:11 17×
Genitive · Plural · Neuter Acts 1:15 · Acts 18:15 2×
Dative · Singular · Neuter Matt 7:22 · Matt 12:21 · Matt 18:5 · Matt 21:9 · Matt 23:39 · Matt 24:5 · Matt 27:32 · Mark 5:22 · Mark 9:37 · Mark 9:38 · Mark 9:39 · Mark 9:41 · Mark 11:9 · Mark 13:6 · Mark 16:17 · Luke 1:5 95×
Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 1:21 · Matt 1:23 · Matt 1:25 · Matt 10:22 · Matt 10:41 · Matt 10:42 · Matt 18:20 · Matt 24:9 · Matt 28:19 · Mark 3:16 · Mark 13:13 · Luke 1:13 · Luke 1:31 · Luke 6:22 · Luke 21:17 · John 1:12 68×
Accusative · Plural · Neuter Mark 3:17 · Rev 3:4 · Rev 13:1 · Rev 17:3 · Rev 21:12 · Rev 21:14 6×
Canonical Themes
Messiah Redemption
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
1 John 2:12-14 for His name’s sake ónoma
The revealed character and authority of Christ.
Acts 16:16-24 Name ónoma
Authority or character represented by a person.
Acts 19:11-20 Name ónoma
Name representing authority and identity.
Acts 21:7-14 Name ónoma Genitive · Singular · Neuter
Name representing authority and identity.
Acts 3:1-10 Name ónoma
Name, representing authority, character, and power of a person.
Acts 4:1-12 Name ónoma
Name representing authority and identity.
Acts 4:13-22 Name ónoma
Name representing authority and identity.
Acts 5:27-42 Name ónoma Genitive · Singular · Neuter
Name representing authority and identity.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 16 — The Gospel Enters Macedonia: Opened Hearts, Broken Chains, and Household Faith Acts 21 — Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Seized in the Temple Acts 22 — Paul’s Defense: Christ Appears, Sends, and Preserves His Witness Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Acts 3 — The Risen Christ Heals and Calls Israel to Repentance Acts 4 — Christ Alone Saves and His Witnesses Speak Boldly Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Matthew 6 — Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain