Some people in the Bible got new names from God. Some got new names from kings, captors, or other people. Some had two names all along. And at least one guy everybody thinks got a dramatic biblical name change… didn’t. So before we go turning Saul into Paul like it was Abram becoming Abraham, let’s sort out who actually got renamed, who did the renaming, and who was just answering to more than one name.
God Changed the Name
Who changed it? God.
Abram became Abraham when God established His covenant with him. His new name reflected the promise that he would become the father of many nations.
Who changed it? God.
God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah while reaffirming His promise that she would become the mother of nations and kings.
Who changed it? God.
After Jacob wrestled through the night, God gave him the name Israel. Scripture continues to use both names, often calling him Jacob when the story focuses on the man and his everyday life, and Israel when the focus shifts to the covenant, his descendants, or the nation that came from him.
Who gave him the name? Jesus.
Simon was given the name Cephas, which is Aramaic. Peter is the Greek version of the name. Both mean rock or stone.
Somebody Else Changed It
Who changed it? Moses.
Before Joshua became Moses’ successor and led Israel into the Promised Land, his name was Hoshea. Numbers specifically tells us that Moses called him Joshua.
Who changed it? Jacob.
As Rachel was dying in childbirth, she named her son Ben-oni. Jacob instead called him Benjamin, and Benjamin is the name that remained.
Who changed it? Pharaoh.
After elevating Joseph to authority over Egypt, Pharaoh gave him the Egyptian name Zaphenath-paneah.
Who changed it? The Babylonian chief official.
Daniel and three other young Jewish exiles were assigned Babylonian names after being taken into royal service.
Hananiah was assigned the Babylonian name Shadrach.
Mishael was assigned the Babylonian name Meshach.
Azariah was assigned the Babylonian name Abed-nego.
Same Person, More Than One Name
Esther 2:7 gives us both names, but it never describes an official renaming event. She appears in Scripture with both her Hebrew name, Hadassah, and the name Esther.
After Gideon destroyed Baal’s altar, his father said he should be called Jerubbaal, essentially challenging Baal to defend himself.
After losing her husband and sons, Naomi asked the women of Bethlehem to call her Mara, meaning bitter. The narrator, however, continues calling her Naomi.
About That Saul-to-Paul Thing
A lot of us grew up with the idea that Saul became Paul when he met Jesus, almost like Abram became Abraham.
That is not what Acts says.
After Saul’s conversion, the Bible continues calling him Saul. Then Acts 13:9 identifies him as “Saul, who was also known as Paul.” Acts never records a renaming ceremony or any moment when Jesus gives Saul a new name.
Saul was his Jewish/Hebrew name, while Paul was his Roman name. As Acts shifts toward Paul’s mission among Gentiles in the Roman world, Paul becomes the name the narrative uses.
So Saul did not become Paul because he became a Christian. He used the appropriate name in each different cultural setting.