What Does the Name Hermes Mean in the Bible?

In the Bible, the name Hermes is mentioned only once in the New Testament. In Acts 14:12, we read that when Paul and Barnabas preached in Lystra, a city in ancient Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), they healed a man who had been crippled from birth.

The people of Lystra were so amazed that they thought Paul and Barnabas were gods. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes.

So what does the name Hermes mean in this context? To understand this, we need to look at the cultural background of the people of Lystra.

Lystra was located in an area that was heavily influenced by Greek culture. In Greek mythology, Hermes was a messenger god who was also associated with commerce, cunning, and thievery.

It’s likely that the people of Lystra saw Paul as a messenger from the gods because he had performed a miraculous healing. They may have also associated him with Hermes because he was seen as wise and clever – qualities that were often associated with the trickster god.

However, it’s important to note that Paul did not accept this worship. Instead, he and Barnabas tore their clothes and urged the people not to worship them as gods but to turn to the true God who had created heaven and earth.

This incident reminds us of how easy it is to be led astray by false gods – even when we are seeking something good like healing or wisdom. We need to be careful not to put our faith in anything or anyone other than God himself.

In conclusion, while Hermes is only mentioned once in the Bible, his association with Paul reminds us of the dangers of idolatry and points us towards the one true God who alone deserves our worship and trust.