GEPEKRIS PANGKALBALAM

Kelahiran seorang bayi selalu menjadi moment sukacita yang tak terlukiskan dalam setiap keluarga Kristiani. Sudah menjadi tradisi bahwa menjelang kelahiran bayi, para calon orang tua sibuk mencari nama “Kristiani” atau nama “Alkitabiah” yang dianggapnya terbaik, terindah untuk sang calon bayi. Salah satu rujukan dalam pencarian nama tersebut biasanya adalah Alkitab.

Memang Alkitab dipenuhi dengan banyak tokoh yang luar biasa dipakai Tuhan dalam kehidupannya. Para orang tua biasanya berharap bahwa anaknya akan mempunyai jiwa atau semangat yang sama dengan yang dimiliki tokoh Alkitab yang namanya dipakai untuk nama bayi mereka. Sebab itu, tidak heran apabila dalam kebanyakan nama bayi-bayi Kristiani, nama pertama mereka biasanya bersumber dari nama tokoh tertentu dalam Alkitab.

Demikian juga dalam peristiwa baptisan air. Pada gereja-gereja tertentu, ada tradisi memberikan “nama baptis” bagi jemaat yang dibaptis. Pada umumnya, nama baptis tersebut diambil dari nama tokoh tertentu di Alkitab. Apakah tujuan pemberian nama baptis tersebut? Tujuannya adalah agar jemaat tersebut kehidupannya dapat menjadi seperti tokoh tersebut, yaitu mempunyai kehidupan yang baik, kudus dan mempermuliakan nama TUHAN. Penggunaan nama Kristiani atau nama Alkitabiah telah menjadi tradisi yang panjang dalam sejarah gereja di dunia.

Darimanakah tradisi memberikan “nama Kristiani” tersebut berasal?

Nampaknya ada satu contoh teladan di Alkitab berkaitan dengan hal itu. Yaitu, suatu peristiwa ketika Allah memberikan nama “baru” bagi Yakub, yaitu “Israel”. Nama “Israel” itu sendiri berasal dari akar kata Ibrani “lisrot = wrestle” dan “El = God”.

Firman Tuhan mengisahkan:

Kejadian 32:28
“Lalu kata orang itu: “Namamu tidak akan disebutkan lagi Yakub, tetapi Israel, sebab engkau telah bergumul melawan Allah dan manusia, dan engkau menang“

Nama “Yakub” berasal dari kata Ibrani “Akev” yang artinya adalah “heel” atau ‘pemegang tumit’. Artinya bila Yakub ingin memiliki sesuatu dia harus memegang tumit orang lain terlebih dahulu, atau menipu dulu baru dia bisa memiliki sesuatu yang diinginkan seperti yang pernah dia lakukan terhadap Esau.

Oleh sebab itu namanya berubah menjadi Israel artinya ‘Allah menang, Pangeran Allah’. Dan untuk mendapatkan nama Israel ini tidaklah mudah sebab ia terlebih dahulu harus bergumul dengan Malaikat hingga fajar pagi di Pniel. Tentunya perubahan nama ini bukan hanya sekedar iseng saja. Berubahnya Yakub menjadi Israel sebenarnya memiliki tujuan ilahi di dalamnya. Sebab pada akhirnya nama Israel ini dijadikan nama satu bangsa pilihan oleh Allah. Dan memang akhirnya Israel mendapatkan berkat-berkatnya dari Allah sesuai dengan janji-Nya.

Dalam masyarakat tertentu, ada pandangan bahwa nama mempunyai “kuasa” tertentu. Sebagai contoh:
Sebut saja ada seorang anak yang sejak lahirnya diberi nama Tony. Saat mulai menginjak remaja, ia sakit-sakitan bahkan hampir mati. Berapa banyak biaya yang harus dikeluarkan kedua orang tuanya agar anak tersebut bisa sembuh. Ketika akhirnya sembuh, kedua orang tuanya mengganti nama anak tersebut menjadi Santoso, dengan harapan anak tersebut sehat senantiasa. Dan setelah dewasa, anak tersebut menambah namanya dengan nama “Petrus”, sehingga menjadi Petrus Santoso, dengan tujuan ia akan menjadi orang yang kuat bagaikan batu karang dalam menghadapi tantangan hidup.

Sebagai kesimpulan, nampaknya nama seseorang mewakili kepribadian seseorang. Meskipun memang tidak selalu demikian pada kenyataannya. Sebab bisa saja seseorang bernama “Paulus”, namun dia ternyata seorang koruptor mad0261


Nama yang bersumber dari Alkitab dan maknanya
(kumpulan nama bayi Kristen/nama Alkitab):

Abigail
Makna: sumber sukacita

Abraham
Makna: the father of a multitude (bapa dari banyak orang/bangsa)

Adam
Makna: Manusia

Amos
Makna:burden (beban)
(nama seorang nabi yang menulis kitab Amos)

Andrew/Andreas
Manliness (kejantanan)

Alexander
Makna: Defender of men or brave (pejuang pembela atau pemberani)
Markus 15:21; KPR 4:6

Angela
Berasal dari kata Yunani “Angelos”.
Makna: Messenger of God (utusan Allah)

Azariah
Makna: yang ditolong Tuhan

Bathsheba / Batsyeba
Makna: daughter of the oath (anak sumpah/perjanjian)

Benjamin/Benyamin
Makna: son of my right hand

Boaz
Makna: strength (kekuatan)

Caleb
Makna: dog (anjing)

Chloe
Makna: Greenery (tumbuhan hijau)
Chloe was a Christian woman of Corinth who informed Paul of the disputes within the local church (1 Corinthians 1:11).

Crystal
Makna: Ice, rock (es, batu)

Damaris
Makna: a heifer (sapi muda)
She was an Athenian woman who was converted to Christianity by Paul the apostle: “However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” (Acts 17:34)

Daniel
Makna: God is my judge (Allah adalah hakimku)

Darius
Makna: he who upholds the good (dia yang menegakkan kebaikan)
He was a governor of Persia during Daniels ministry.

David/Daud
Makna: Hero (pahlawan)

Deborah
Makna: bee (lebah/tawon)
Before there were kings there were judges which she was. She was also known as a prophetess who helped Barak defeat the Canaanites.

Eleazer
Makna: God has helped (Allah telah menolong)

Eli
Makna: uplifted (ditinggikan)
He was Israel first high priest after they had crossed the river Jordan.

Eliezer
Makna: help of God (pertolongan dari Allah)

Elijah / Elia
Makna: my Lord is Jehovah (Yehova adalah Tuhanku)

Elisha/Elisa
Makna: God is salvation (Allah adalah keselamatan/penyelamat)

Elizabeth/Elisabeth
Makna: Sumpah/janji Allah

Enoch/Henokh
Makna: mengabdi

Esau
Makna: hairy (berbulu)

Esther/Ester
Makna: star (bintang)

Eve/Hawa
Makna: life (kehidupan)

Ezekiel/Yehezkiel
Makna: the strength of God (kekuatan Allah)

Ezra
Makna: help (pertolongan)

Felix
Makna: Prosperous (makmur)
He was a high ranking Roman official that had been appointed to office by the emperor Claudius. Felix was an evil and cruel ruler. He was the one who placed the apostle Paul in prison for two years.

Festus
Makna: Joyful (bersukacita/bergembira)
He was known as “Porcius Festus” and he was the one who succeeded Felix, when it came to ruling over the province of Judea. Festus was immediately placed in the middle of the conflict between Paul and the Sanhedrin. After Festus had reviewed the case against Paul, he decided that this was more of a religious matter, than it was a political one, and so therefore, sent the apostle to be tried before the Sanhedrin instead of the Roman tribunal.

Gabriel
Makna: Warrior of God (Ksatria Allah)
This was the name of an angel that was sent down to explain Daniel’s vision of the ram and the he- goat. This angel also told Daniel about the meaning of the “seventy weeks period.” This same angel; also did the birth announcements of John the Baptist and the Messiah — JESUS CHRIST.

Gideon
Makna: Hewer or lumberjack (penebang pohon)
He was one of the twelve Judges who looked over Israel. He was also commissioned by God to defeat the Midianites. Perhaps one of the most memorable events in the Bible is where he defeated 135,000 Midiante troops with just 300 men with the help from the Lord.

Hannah
Makna: Grace (anugerah)

Hazael
Makna: God sees (Allah melihat)
He was anointed king over Aram (Syria) by the prophet Elijah. Because of their sins, God would allow the Syrian king to be the oppressor over Israel for quite some time.

Hezekiah/Hizkia
Makna: Strength of God (Kekuatan Allah)
He was the son of Ahaz king of Judah, who became a king himself. He was perhaps the second most successful king (southern) Judah ever had, Josiah was by far the most successful.

Hosea
Makna: Salvation (keselamatan)
He was a prophet that God used in Israel, around 770-725 B.C. He is also the author of the book “Hosea.”

Immanuel or Emmanuel
Makna: God with us (Allah beserta kita)
Is the name of our precious Saviour JESUS CHRIST. He came down as an living example on how we should live our lives within His awesome creation. He took on the burden of our sins and paid the price for our redemption. He rose on the third day after his death and came back in his new resurrected body proving to us that there is spiritual life after physical death. He is the true promised Messiah and the only way to our eternal salvation.

Isaac/Ishak
Makna: Laughter (tertawa)
He was the first born unto Abraham who was offered up as a brunt sacrifice unto God. This was because God decided to test Abraham faith, by asking him to sacrifice his one and only son that he had with Sarah, who up to that point could not bear children.

Isaiah/Yesaya
Makna: God’s Salvation (Keselamatan dari Allah)
He was a prophet of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. His ministry was during the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He was eventually executed by king Manasseh, by being sawed in half. Isaiah was a great prophet and the author of the Book of Isaiah, Life of Uzziah, and the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Ishmael/Ismael
Makna: God hears (Allah mendengar)
He was the oldest son of Abraham and Hagar. He would later be thrown out with his mother because of the conflict they were having with Sarah and Isaac. He would later become the founder of the Arabian tribes.

Israel
Makna: Prince of God (Pangeran Allah)

Jacob/Yakub
Makna: Deceiver / heel catcher (penipu/penangkap tumit)

Japheth/Yafet
Makna: he enlarges/expansion (perluasan/pengembangan)

Jehoshaphat/Yosafat
Makna: God has judged (Allah telah mengadili)

Jephthah/Yefta
Makna: to be set free (dibebaskan)
He was the son of Gilead and a mighty warrior. However, his mother was a prostitute so therefore he was illegitimate. His half-brothers would drive him away from his homeland because of it when he got older. He would make a great reputation for himself while he settled in the land of Tob. He would later become a Judge over Israel in which he led them for six years.

Jeremiah/Yeremia
Makna: whom the Lord has appointed (yang dipilih Tuhan)
He was a prophet would ministry would last for over forty years. He would gain the reputation of being called the, ‘weeping prophet,’ and he was the author of the Biblical books – Jeremiah & Lamentations.

Jesse/Isai
Makna: I Possess (saya memiliki)
He was the father of eight sons with one of them being David. The Lord would instruct the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint the next king of Israel. His journey would lead him to the house of Jesse.

John/Yohanes
Makna: Jehovah is a gracious giver (TUHAN adalah pemberi yang murah hati)

Jonah/Yunus
Makna: Dove (burung merpati)
Jonah was one of the prophets of Israel. He was thrown from a ship into the sea and swallowed by a shark. He prayed in its belly for three days and nights and was regurgitated unharmed. He authored the book of Jonah.

Joshua/Yosua
Makna: Jehovah is salvation (TUHAN juru selamat)

Joseph/Yusuf
Makna: Jehovah has added (Yehova/TUHAN telah menambahkan)

Judah/Yehuda
Makna: praise (pujian)

Julia
Makna: Soft-haired (berambut lembut)
Roma 16:15

Leah/Lea
Makna: Weary, tired (lelah/letih/bosan).
daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah

Levi/Lewi
Makna: joined (bergabung)

Luke/Lukas
Makna: Bringer of light, morning (pembawa terang, pagi)

Manasseh/Manasye
Makna: forgetting (lupa)

Mark/Markus
Makna: a defense (pembelaan)
An evangelist, the author of the Gospel of Mark. Marcus was his Latin surname, his Jewish name was John. He was a cousin of Barnabas and a companion of Paul in some of his missionary journeys.

Martha
Makna: Mistress (nyonya rumah)

Mary/Maria
Makna: Rebellion, overthrow (pemberontakan, menggulingkan)
Many women bear the name Mary in the Bible. Mary was the mother of JESUS CHRIST, who was conceived within her by the Holy Spirit when she was a virgin. She was married to the carpenter Joseph. Mary of Bethany was the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Mary Magdalene and Mary the wife of Cleopas were two of the women who supported the ministry of JESUS CHRIST both spiritually and materially. Mary the mother of John Mark was one of the earliest disciples of JESUS.

Matthew/Matius
Makna: gift of Jehovah (hadiah dari TUHAN)
Son of Alphaeus, one of the 12 disciples

Micah/Mikha
Makna: Who is like the Lord (siapakah yang seperti TUHAN)
He was a prophet during the days of, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He came from the town of Moresheth Gath, and was the only prophet who had foretold the birthplace of the true Messiah — (JESUS CHRIST)

Michal/Mikhal
Makna: Who is like God (siapakah yang seperti Allah)
She was the youngest daughter of the first king of Israel, Saul. He would hand her over to David after had had killed the Philistine giant, Goliath. She would become David’s first wife.

Musa/Moses
Makna: drawing out (of a water), ditarik keluar dari air.
Nabi besar dalam sejarah Israel dan beberapa agama

Naphtali/Naftali
Makna: wrestling (bergulat)
Was one of the tribal founders to the twelve tribes of Israel. He was the son of Jacob and Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaiden). He would be Bilhah’s second and Jacob’s sixth.

Nathan/Natan
Makna: Given by God (diberikan oleh Allah)

Obadiah/Obaja
Makna: servant of Jehovah (Pelayan TUHAN)
The 4th of the 12 minor prophets; nothing personal is known of him but it is probable that he was contemporary with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The prophetic book by him; prophesies against Edom.

Oliver
Makna: The olive tree (pohon zaitun)

Paul/Paulus
Makna: small or little (kecil)

Rachel/Rahel
Makna: a sheep (domba)
Was the youngest daughter to Laban and a shepherdess. Her father used her to trick the patriarch Jacob into working an additional seven years for the rights to marry her. She was the mother to two of the founders that made up the twelve tribes of Israel (Joseph – Benjamin).

Reuben/Ruben
Makna: see, a son (melihat, anak laki-laki)

Rebecca/Ribka
Makna: Captivating, beautiful (yang menawan, cantik)

Ruth/Rut
Makna: Friend (sahabat)
Ruth was the wife of Mahlon and the daughter-in-law of Naomi. After her husband’s death she married Boaz and gave birth to Obed, the grandfather of King David. Her story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament.

Samuel
Makna: God heard (Allah mendengar)
Hannah had asked him of Jehovah, she gave him the name, “the God-heard,” as a memorial of the hearing of her prayer.

Sarah
Makna: princess of a multitude (Putri orang banyak)
She was once called Sarai. She also became the wife to the patriarch Abraham. She was the mother of Ishmael (patriarch to the Arabian nation) and Isaac (patriarch to the Israel nation).

Saul
Makna: loaned (meminjamkan)
He was the son of the Benjamite Kish, who would become Israel’s first king during the days of Samuel the prophet. He was tall, handsome and was without equal. God would instruct the prophet to anoint him king over his people, for He had heard their cry.

Silas
Makna: Wood, from the forest (kayu dari hutan)

Simeon
Makna: one who hears (orang yang mendengar)
Was one of the tribal founders to the twelve tribes of Israel. He was the second oldest son to Jacob and Leah. He avenges the rape of his sister Dinah along with his brother Levi by attacking the predators which were called the Shechemites.

Trinity
Makna: Three (tiga)
Trinity is a word used by Christians to express the doctrine of the unity of God as consisting of three distinct Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The word trinity is not found in the Bible, and was first used in this context by Theophilus.

Zebulun/Zebulon
Makna: exalted (mulia/agung)

Zipora
Makna: Bird (burung)
daughter of Reuel or Jethro, wife of Moses, and mother of Gershom and Eliezer.


Referensi:

Brown-Driver-Briggs’s Hebrew definitions

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries

Thayer’s Greek Definitions

http://www.biblical-baby-names.com

http://christianity.about.com/od/christianbabynames