Whats the meaning of the phrase; "In the name of"? For example : whatever you ask in my name, Ask in my name.
Oxford actually has an entry for the phrase, but it doesn't seem to match how it's used in prayers, as that's not for emphasis. And even this doesn't explain why it's emphatic.
(in the name of Christ/God/heaven etc.) Used for emphasis:
what in the name of God do you think you’re doing?
Best Answer
Putting all religious contentions aside for the sake of our language, the etymology of name offers a good place to start understanding:
We've all experienced the power of namedropping in our lives. People respect us and our opinions if they believe we are connected to someone with greater reputation and authority.
In all cultures, people of authority have always lent their reputation and their authority to their delegates. The founders and leaders of religious movements use the same delegation strategies as the founders and leaders of nations. The English phrase in the name of simply asserts the reputation and authority of another person.
English Reports Annotated - Pages 1505-2672, 1505, page 2048:
Victor Hugo's Dramas 1519, page 364:
The Newe Testament in Englishe Translated After the Greke, 1553:
Calendar of State Papers, Foreign Series, of the reign of Elizabeth: preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office, Volume 7, 1564:
An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, by Martin Luther, 1520, Translation by C. M. Jacobs, Page 94:
Emphasis mine
We introduce an interrogative with the emphatic: What in God's name, or its metonym: What in heaven's name. That emphasis poses an implication to the listener: I have a right to ask this question, and you owe me an answer!