The Name as a Symbol in the Judeo-Christian Tradition

Abstract

The author examines the human ability and task of giving names. She is in search of what the foundation of names is, especially in the Judeo-Christian tradition, in biblical language.

She points to the relationship between human beings and the world, which gets manifested in the process of giving names. The article deals with the concept of names as an expression of the spirit, and with the related issues of change and loss of a name as well as responsibility vis-a-vis a name.

The text concludes with what studies into the phenomenon of the name with J. Derrida have revealed and outlines eventual interpretations and further questions.

Keywords

• name
• give names
• giving
• changing and loss of name
• the name of God
• the power of a name
• responsibility for a name
• signature