[…the heads of the priestly families]:
of Harim’s, Adna;
of Meremoth’s, Helkai;
of Iddo’s, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
Nehemiah 12:14-16
Last time we looked into name meanings of family heads of priests, grateful that our spiritual name is “Jehovah Favored.” Today we continue on with the priestly family heads.
Harim is first, a name that means consecrated from charam – make accursed, consecrate, utterly destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly slay…[T]o seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction). Yikes, what a rough name. Interesting that I’m reading All the Light We Cannot See while looking at a definition such as this. The novel follows a young French girl and German boy at the height of the Nazi regime during World War II.
Speaking of “to ban and devote to destruction.” Any time a certain group is sought to be utterly destroyed, we can be certain evil is present. The good news is, the word is also defined as “consecrated.” To be set apart for God’s purposes. We can know whatever evil is present, He can use it for good. The truth is we all have difficulties in this stunningly harsh and breathtakingly beautiful world. Because we are consecrated for Him, our difficulties – even suffering – can have purpose, dignity, and witness.
The head listed for Harim’s family is Adna, a name like eden – a luxury, dainty, delight, pleasure. Eden’s root is adan – to luxuriate, revel in. This one is intense after “devoted to destruction.” Kind of like life, yes? A friend’s baby niece passed away today, and a group of us also reveled in a delicious brunch and time together. An acquaintance lost a young family member to murder, and the sun is also out melting sparkling snow drifts. A sort of emotional whiplash, and yet the nature of our haunting and heavenly world.
Meremoth is the family name next listed. It comes from mirmah – deceit, treachery, deception, dishonest, false, craft, feigned, guile, fraud; plural from rum – to be high, exalted, rise, become proud, lofty. Another difficult name. Seems the challenge comes from delighting in this world as a gift rather than dishonest grasping. To keep our eyes set on the only One capable of being highly exalted without imploding.
Meremoth’s family head is Helkai, a name that comes from chalaq – to divide, share, deal, distribute, flatter, give, have, to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots); to apportion or separate – take away a portion, receive, separate self.
This one feels slippery. Is it to distribute or have? To take away a portion or receive it? What does flattery and smoothness have to do with it?
Perhaps my issue is when I read “divide, deal, distribute” I picture some card dealer in Las Vegas arbitrarily passing out hands that don’t affect him. The difference between that and our Abba is so vast, it is hard to connect them.
When the King of Creation gives and takes away, it never is separated from His perfect love, His supreme holiness, or His fathomless justice based in knowing absolutely all.
Iddo is the next family listed, a name that means timely from adah – adorn, pass on, advance, deck self, pass by, take away; to remove. Timely is an interesting word, isn’t it? Particularly when I think of our collective past two or so years, it seems so many illnesses and deaths and losses have been untimely.
But we cannot consider our timeline when faced with great glory or tragedy. We will miss what He’s doing on a grand scale, things we couldn’t handle if shown.
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:
“Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
“Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Do you have an arm like God’s,
and can your voice thunder like his?
Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
Job 40:6-10
Speaking of adorn.
We saw the last family head, Meshullam, recently, so we will end with the lineage name, Ginnethon. It is from ganan meaning “gardener, cover, surround, defend, protect, hedge about.”
As a gardener fences in her treasured plants, our God will surround, defend, and protect His children. His little flock, those in whom He delights. Eden is coming and He will cover us in the heartache until then.
Blessed be the Name of the LORD.