What is the meaning of the name Richard in the Bible?
Introduction
The name Richard means strong ruler or brave leader.
Richard is not in the Bible.
The Bible was not originally written in English, German, French, Mandarin, or your local dialect but in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
So, the Bible written in your language is only a translated version.
Richard is of Germanic origin; therefore, it cannot be traced in the Bible. However, this name has a significant meaning that can be linked to the person of God, making it a suitable name to acknowledge God’s power and a testament to God’s sovereignty.
Are you a Christian bearing Richard searching for a profound spiritual meaning of your name from a biblical perspective?
Are you looking at adopting the name Richard after baptism or want to christen your child but don’t know what the Bible says about it?
This article will answer all your questions about the name Richard.
Meaning of Richard in the Bible:
Destined to be great
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
The name Richard is like a prophecy of Jesus Christ before He was born.
The Bible says Jesus will be above the government of the world, His kingdom will be established, and He will reign forever.
Long before Jesus was born, He had been chosen by God to rule in heaven and earth.
The name Richard falls into alignment with the destiny of Jesus. Every believer is destined to be like Jesus in character and nature (1 John 3:2). Therefore, since Jesus was destined to be great even before the foundations of the world were laid, we were anointed to be great in our mother’s womb. 
Therefore, the name Richard reflects God’s plan for His children. His plan is for us to rule. In Genesis 1:28, He gave us dominion over all He created.
In Deuteronomy 28:13, He promised to make us the head and not the tail and to be above only and never beneath. Richard is the perfect reflection of these promises.
So, those bearing Richard align themselves to be the first beneficiary of these promises. However, bearing Richard is not enough to be great.
There must be a perfect blend of obedience to God, diligence, and holiness to fully unlock these blessings attached to the name Richard.
A symbol of God’s power and might
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
God is the ruler of the universe.
He is great and mighty.
He is beautiful beyond comprehension.
His wisdom is unsearchable, and His ways are mysterious.
We can only attempt to describe who He is. But no word or mind is accurate enough to represent His majesty, might, and power perfectly. He is beyond anything we can think of or imagine.
But we forget to appreciate God’s greatness because we are humans and flawed.
Our minds have been captured by our daily hustle and bustle. We lack the mental depth to understand that God is the creator of the universe and all living and non-living creatures.
However, we can deliberately build alters as men of old did to remember God’s greatness and mark the days and times of His blessings and deliverance.
For example, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Jacob built altars to give thanks, worship, and remember what He did in their lives.
Therefore, the name Richard can be a physical, living altar to acknowledge God in one’s life. It can be a living symbol of God’s faithfulness and majesty.
So, you can name your child or yourself Richard if you want to always remember how great and big God is.
A declaration of God’s authority over all creation
“The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
It is one thing to know God is King of the heavens and the earth.
It is another thing to accept and declare this reality.
The name Richard is the affirmation of God’s power and royalty above all kingdoms of the world.
Anytime Richard is mentioned, we provoke our minds to believe that Jesus is the true King and there is no one besides Him.
Therefore, the name Richard solidifies our faith in Jesus and makes us express it daily.
A reminder to be humble
“And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:34)
God is the King of kings (Isaiah 40:21-23). No one can stand before Him.
Even though the name Richard means a mighty or powerful ruler, no one can be compared to God. Instead, you must be humble to bear God’s name.
God hates pride and attacks those who place themselves above Him or ascribe His glory to themselves.
For example, King Nebuchadnezzar allowed his fame and power to get to his head.
His kingdom, Babylon, was the world’s ruling nation. Therefore, all kingdoms of the world were under his authority. Because of this, he believed that his wisdom and resources brought him to that position.
When God saw that pride clouded Nebuchadnezzar’s mind, God showed him who the true King of the heavens and the earth is (Daniel 4:28-30). God made Nebuchadnezzar lose his mind for 7 years.
During this time, he became like a wild animal, covered in his hair like fur, walking on fours, and eating grass. God later restored him, and Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s sovereignty (Daniel 4:31-36)
Therefore, Richard reminds us to bask in God’s blessings without being carried away.
We must not forget the source of every good thing.
The Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). Therefore, it doesn’t matter how hard you worked to become a king in your industry or field; God made it possible. He is the one who gives us all we own.
So, you must acknowledge Him in all your ways so you will not nosedive from the place of privilege and blessings to wilderness or wild like King Nebuchadnezzar.
A symbol of authority
“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)
Jesus has been given all authority in heaven(Matthew 28:18).
Interestingly, He has handed this authority to those who believe in Him.
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)
The king’s scepter symbolizes authority.
He can wield it as he pleases.
A king without authority is only a figurehead.
He is just occupying the throne but not exerting its power. But the name Richard represents the king and his authority over his kingdom and force against opposers.
Richard represents the authority we can possess as God’s children.
This authority is enforced not only on earth but also in heaven.
It is the physical and spiritual authority that controls the visible and invisible.
The authority Jesus gave His disciples was to attack and destroy the kingdom of darkness without guns, bombs, and missiles but with His name.
Philippians 2:9-11 says Jesus’ name is above every other name.
Every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bow in surrender and defeat when Jesus is mentioned. Therefore, the name Richard symbolizes our control over the universe.
The chosen one
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9)
God’s children are the chosen ones.
They are meant to rule with God here on earth and in heaven.
They have God’s king-nature and can exercise the same rights and authority.
Psalm 82:6 says, “I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.” In other words, we are the chosen ones because we are not the only creatures of God, but He chose us to be like Him.
Therefore, the name Richard portrays God’s great kindness toward us.
It shows the rare privilege to be seen as joint heirs with Christ, enjoying the blessings of being a king and sitting at God’s right hand far above principalities and powers and rule over nations (Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 1:20-23, Romans 8:17).
The name also reminds us to be grateful for this rare privilege God has given us to be rulers.
Jesus Christ purchased this privilege with His precious blood by experiencing a gruesome death on the cross.
READ THIS NEXT:
What Does The Bible Say About Other Religions?
The Symbolism Of Lightning In The Bible
Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
David Akeju is a Christian writer who believes in the transformational power of God’s Word. His articles and books have been published on global platforms, and thousands of lives have been touched. He works with pastors and ministers, churches and ministries, and brands.