The Biblical Origins of Netanyahu

What does Netanyahu Actually Mean?

Mr. Netanyahu’s last name (נתניהו) is actually a compound name. Netan (נתן) means “he gave” and Yahu (יהו) is a shortened version of YHWH, the covenant name of the Lord of Israel. So, the translation of the current prime minister’s last name is “the Lord has given.” Incidentally, if you switch these two halves around, you get another very famous Biblical name: Yeho + Natan or “Jonathan”. Mr. Netanyahu’s first name, Benjamin, is of course also the name of a well-known figure in the Bible, one of Jacob’s twelve sons.

The State of Israel is saturated with biblical imagery; national symbols, national festivals, and personal names. As both his first and last names demonstrate, Benjamin Netanyahu is a true emblem of the biblically rooted Jewish State of Israel. The best way to get to the heart of what Israel really means is to learn to read the Bible in the authentic language of the people of Israel: Hebrew. Enroll in our live online course today.