Yinon, taken from Psalm 72:17, means “to increase,” “to endure,” or “continue.” Yinon is also an ancient reference to Mashiach.

“His name shall endure forever; His name shall be continued as the sun” (lifnei shemesh Yinon shemo) (Psalm 72:17) The School of Yanai taught, “The name of Messiah is Yinon for it is written. lifnei shemesh Yinon shemo; his name is Yinon before the sun was created.” (Sanhedrin 98b)

Yinon

If one were to open an English concordance, the word Yinon would not be there. Even though it appears only once in the Bible, Yinon is regarded as a name of the Messiah. Ironically, the only English version that translated Yinon as a name was the Jewish Publication Society (JPS).

Most translations, like the New American Standard Bible, translated Psalm 72:17 as follows: “May his name endure forever. May his name increase as long as the sun shines”. This leads the reader to think about the name of God, even with the pronoun “his” instead of “His”. Consider now the JPS translation: “May his name be eternal”, suggesting at least the hope that “he” will be called “Eternal”. Who then is he who is worthy to be called Eternal?

To draw closer to an answer, here is my suggested translation of Psalm 72:17: “May his name last forever, his name, Yinon, was before the sun (was created) and all nations will be blessed in him, all people will call him blessed”. According to this translation, which reflects the Jewish understanding, whoever Yinon may be, he existed before the creation of the world.

Therefore, the medieval Jewish sage Rashi, following the Talmud concluded that Yinon is the Messiah. In his attempt to understand the words of Micah 5:2 – “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, out of you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, his goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” – Rashi used Yinon to prove that the prophet is speaking about the Messiah.

As Rashi put it: “‘Yet out of you shall come forth’ – this is Messiah son of David. ‘His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity’ – before the sun his name is Yinon” (Rashi on Micah 5:2). Based on Proverb 29:21 where the word manon appears (since lost in translations), Rashi assumes that Yinon means dominion which of course reinforces his line of interpretation.

However, the meaning of Yinon is unclear even today. Some agree with Rashi while others prefer the meaning “descendant” (nin). In either case both meanings fit the Messiah: the first highlights his kingship; the second, his divine origin.

Yinon (Yinnon) – ? 

English, Hebrew

Gender – Masculine

Time of appearance – The Modern Era

Meaning

The verb “yinnon” (perhaps meaning “shall continue”) appears in the Bible in reference to the ideal king: “His name shall endure for ever, his name shall be continued as long as the sun, and men shall be blessed in him, all nations shall call him blessed” (Psalms 72, 17). Later on, “Yinnon” became one of the Messiah’s epithets.

On this day...

• I Have Seen the Lord - 2011
• The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up?Like the Serpent - 2011
• 100 Names of the Messiah - 2010
• The Sinners Prayer - 2010
• Imparting His own Nature to the work of His hands - 2010
• 7 Words To Change Your Family - James Macdonald - 2009
• Rapturous Joy - 2009
• FB Meyer - In Him, Study the Book of Ephesians - 2009
• Lamentations 3:24 - 2008
• Job 38:16 - 2008