Question: Does President Barak Obama’s name, in Hebrew, mean lightning + high place?

Answer: No. First of all, his name is not Hebrew. However, the Arabic name Barak is linguistically related to the Hebrew root BRK, which means blessed.  The lightning word is baraq, not barak. Second, Obama has no connection with the Hebrew word bamah (high place). Even if it did, so what? A person’s name has little to do with their life. Consider these facts, based on Hebrew:

Ancient Israel had a number of kings whose names exalted God, who nevertheless did the opposite of God’s ways. King Jehoiakim’s name means may Yahweh arise, and King Zedekiah’s name means Yahweh is righteous.

William P. Griffin, Ph.D.