Thursday, July 7, 2011

Zebidah or Beulah?


So you all know I'm a name enthusiast, but even so I don't often name objects (I know my dear laptop should have a name but usually it just goes by "Satellite" which is the type of Toshiba it is). But my parents have always named their vehicles - currently they have a gemstone theme based on the paint color "Emerald" and "Beryl".

My car is similar to this one
So when I was very blessed by a lady in my church giving me her old white Suburu I knew that I had to choose a special name! I wanted a name that means "blessing" or "gift" and because I know her through church I decided that a Biblical name would be best. I had so much fun researching Biblical names and found a few interesting names that I wanted to share!


The first Biblical name that came to my attention was Beulah, and it immediately seemed to suit my new car because she is older but has a distinguished air about her. But although Beulah means "blessed, favored" and has a lovely Biblical uses, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. 

In my searching I stumbled upon the site Biblical-Baby-Names.com, a wonderful resource that has detailed info on so many great names used in the Old and New Testament in their Database. I highly recommend you check out their page!

It was through their webpage that I found the Old Testament female name Zebidah. It not only has the lovely meaning "gift" but was also the name of the wife of good King Josiah. I had fun looking up the verses and finding the various forms which are: Zebudah (used in King James Version), Zebida, Zabia.
Zebidah is the feminine form of the masculine Hebrew name Zabad (other forms: Zabbud, Zabud) which also means "gift".  

"Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." - 2 Kings 22: 1-2 KJV
"And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah." - 2 Chronicles 25: 34, 36 KJV

Again, similar to my car
So I really like the idea of naming my car Zebidah (maybe with nickname Zeb or Zebbie) but I also love Beulah and think it sort of fits a bit better. Of course the more I talk about Zebidah more I like it! 

What do you think? Which one should I choose?

Don't forget to check out Biblical-Baby-Names.com


Your Resident Name Enthusiast,
Miss Laurie :)

3 comments:

Charity U said...

Zebidah. :)

Annie (larkin) said...

I prefer Zebidah. Very cute! :)

Mel said...

Sorry I didn't get around to commenting sooner!
Both the names are wonderful. I think I prefer Beulah. I've never actually heard it before and I think it sounds so lovely!