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    Bible Name Meaning Tool

    Enter a name to see what it means in Scripture, the language it comes from, and the King James Version verses where it appears. 1,332 names searchable, free and without signup.

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    Onesimus

    Pronounced oh-NES-ih-mus

    boy
    ✓ In the King James Bible — Yes — Onesimus appears in the King James Bible, including Philemon 1:10-11.
    Meaning
    "Useful; Profitable; Beneficial"
    Origin
    Greek

    Onesimus was a runaway slave who encountered Paul in prison and became a Christian. Paul sent him back to his master Philemon with a letter asking Philemon to receive him 'not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved.' It's the Bible's most personal letter about forgiveness and reconciliation.

    Spiritual meaning

    Onesimus embodies gospel transformation — once 'useless,' now 'useful.' In Christ, every person becomes who their name declares.

    Related verses (KJV)

    • "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me."

      Philemon 1:10-11 (KJV) →

    • "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved."

      Philemon 1:16 (KJV) →
    Full page for Onesimus

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    Questions about biblical name meanings

    How do I find the biblical meaning of a name?

    Type the name into the search box above. The tool returns the Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or Latin root behind the name, its literal meaning, and the King James Version passages where it appears.

    Does every name have a biblical meaning?

    No. Many modern Christian names never appear in Scripture, and some popular 'biblical meanings' circulating online are inaccurate. Where a name is thematic rather than scriptural, we say so plainly instead of inventing a verse for it.

    Which Bible translation do the verses come from?

    The King James Version. It is public domain in the United States, so the text can be quoted and shared freely.

    How can I tell whether a name is actually in the Bible?

    Each result distinguishes a name that appears in the KJV from a later Christian or thematic name. Related verses explain a theme; they are not presented as proof that a modern name occurs in Scripture.

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