And it came to pass as her soul was in departing (for she died), that she called his name Benoni [that is, The son of my sorrow], but his father called him Benjamin [that is, The son of the right hand] – Genesis 35:17
As Rachel was dying, she gave birth to a baby boy, and she named him Ben-oni, which means ‘son of my sorrow’. Like some parents in some cultures, she named her child based on her circumstances. Because she was in sorrow when she gave birth, then her son had to be named accordingly to commemorate that period in her life. Imagine growing up answering to ‘son of my sorrow’. That’s a negative name.
More than that, words matter. Proverbs 18:21 says, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ Our words carry in them the Power of Life and death. When we speak, what we say comes to pass. That’s why Jacob, the boy’s father, changed Ben-oni to Benjamin, which means, ‘son of my right hand.’ That’s a much better, positive and powerful name. When we give our children negative names, they’ll grow up to fulfil them and be in life what God never purposed them to be. Negative words give Satan authority to bring them to pass.
Benjamin’s father himself, Jacob, also bore a negative name which God later changed to Israel, a more power and prophetic name. That’s because words matter and names are words. Genesis 27:36 says, ‘Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Jacob means ‘supplanter’. That’s why Jacob lived up to that name and stole his brother’s birthright. Be careful what you name your children. Don’t choose random names whose origins are uncertain. Don’t name your children based on your circumstances. Give them names that will speak Life into them. Give them prophetic names that have a positive meaning for the Blessing of God to rest upon them.
DECLARATION
Children are a Gift from God. They should be named according to their Destiny and not their parents’ feelings. Names are words and words have the Power of death and Life. Children’s names should speak Life into them, not death.