In the New Testament, Hebrews 11 cites biblical names: Old Testament people of faith, and what that faith accomplished. In verse 32, it begins to wrap-up with a concise list of names. This is the passage I want to show you.

Biblical Names in Hebrews 11

Every name in the bible has a meaning. Even the names of the bible appear to have structure. In other words, the names connect to the City of Light just as clearly as the prophesy in Isaiah.

The Hebrews 11 passage begins with the name Barak. The Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon defines Barak as meaning, “Lightning.” I discovered an even better biblical dictionary, the Enhanced Dictionary of Biblical Names, with even richer definitions.

I was given permission to use this dictionary on Zerah.com. Every name on the site is live, using what’s called a tooltip. Tooltips allow you to point at a name and have a definition pop up so you can see its meaning.

Light Source

Click or hover on the name Barak (ba’-rak)
Lightning; thunder; thunderbolt.

Source: EDBN, here or to your left, to see the definition.

The name Barak, which means lighting, connects to the light of glory that illuminates the city. Other parts of the bible support this. Jesus looks like lightning (Daniel 10:6).

Next in the Hebrews 11 passage is the name Samson (sam’-sun)
A little sun. Splendid sun; i.e., great joy and felicity; like the sun; distinguished; strong; a perfect servant; sun-man.

Source: EDBN, which means, “little sun.” As in the “nations will walk in its light.” This is the same place Jesus stands in Deuteronomy, to show God’s word, because the people were afraid of the fire. Again, click or hover the name to your left to see the definition.

God Opens

Then, we come to the inner gate that is never shut. Hebrews 11 writes the name Jephthah (jef’-thah)
He will open; i.e., He will set free and liberate; He does open; He sets free; God opens; the breaker through. (root = to open; to ungirt; to unloose; to set free; to engrave).
Source: EDBN. It means, “God opens,” or God sets free. Just like he brought us, “out” of the land of Egypt in the 10 commandments. Just like the earthquake of the resurrection scene.

They may  enter matches the Hebrews 11 name David (da’-vid)
Beloved.
Source: EDBN. It means, “Beloved.” This is the same place the angel says, “For there is born to you, in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the lord.”

Hearing God

The passage continues, nothing “profane” or who causes a “lie” will enter the city. Hebrews 11 cites the name Samuel, and the rest of the prophets who among other things worked out righteousness, a clear opposite to the profane. Samuel (sam’-u-el)
Heard of God; i.e., asked of God; offering of God; appointed by God; heard; (roots = [1] to hear; [2] God). His name by God. His name (is) of God(?).
Source: EDBN means, “Heard of God.” Those who do not lie. Those who are prophets, and who carry the Word of God within their words.

Such people are made strong, grow mighty, and cause foreign armies to flee. Like a great multitude of the heavenly host — the heavenly army — who suddenly appear, praising God. These, to me, are the same people of faith whose names are written in Jesus’ book of life.

Resurrection

The passage ends with the promise, “Women received their dead by resurrection.” It connects to the river of the water of life, shining like crystal, that flows from the throne of God and the lamb in the middle of its street.

This is the same place the angel of the resurrection scene says, “He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said.”

Lightning.
Little sun.
God opens.
Beloved.
Heard of God.
Mighty.
Resurrected.

Proof in Hebrews 11

The names and text of this Hebrews 11 passage match the city of light in the book of Revelation. If there was any doubt there’s structure in the words of the bible, I believe the names provide the ultimate proof.

But, there’s one last example to explore — the fall from Eden in the book of Genesis. Click the right arrow, or the Genesis link below, to take a look.