As a theologian and Pastor with extensive knowledge of religious studies, I have often heard
people debating about the origin of the name of Jesus. Some say the name Jesus is
blasphemous, while others support it as the Lord’s name meaning “savior.” Many people believe it is a modern name created by man because the letter J does not exist in Greek or Hebrew. Due to the controversies surrounding this name, I decided to share my insights on the topic and answer the question: is Jesus a Hebrew name?
In this article, I will shed light on what the name Jesus means in Hebrew. Join me in this
exploration and discover why Jesus is called Yeshua in Hebrew. By the end of this article, you
will also learn what religions believe in Yeshua. Read to find out more!
What does the name Jesus mean in Hebrew?
The name Jesus is believed to mean rescuer or deliverer. Others interpret it as a savior. One who came to save people and deliver them from the shackles of sin. According to Matthew 1:21, she shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Emphasizing the name Jesus’ meaning as a savior.
It should be noted that whether the name Jesus is written in Hebrew, Greek, English, or French does not affect who Jesus is or the meaning of His name. The only thing that changes is the language and spelling of the name, but the meaning remains the same.
If Jesus’ name was Yeshua, where did Jesus come from?
The meaning of the name Jesus is hidden in linguistics. Many scholars believe that the name Jesus was derived from the effects of translation and transliteration. Translation is the process of changing text or words from one language to another, whereas transliteration is the process of transferring a word from one language’s alphabet to another. These two processes resulted in the name “Jesus.”
In Hebrew, the name Jesus is spelled Yeshua, which translates to Joshua in English. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and the New Testament in Greek. Thus, in Greek, Jesus was transliterated to Iesous, which became Jesus when translated into English. Scholars also point out that the names Joshua in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament both mean the same thing.
Why Jesus is called Yehoshua in Greek
According to theologians from Jewish Voice Humanitarian Organization, Yehoshua is the Hebrew version of the name Jesus, not the Greek version. Later, the name was abbreviated to Yeshua. When translated into English, this name becomes Joshua. Many theologians believe the Greek name Jesus was originally Iesous, which became Jesus in English after transliteration.
Why Jesus is called Yeshua in Hebrew
Language has mysteries, and each language has its way of crafting and creating names for people and places. In Hebrew, the name Jesus is said to be written as Yeshua. The name translates to Joshua in English. In Hebrew, Jesus is called Yeshua, which means savior, deliverer, or rescuer. The name Joshua, which means “God is salvation” or “God is deliverance,” has the same meaning as Jesus. In Hebrew, names signify one’s destiny, purpose, or calling. Thus, Yeshua stood for the mission and purpose of Jesus: to save the world.
Many Christians believe that the name Jesus means salvation; thus, in Hebrew, Jesus is called Yeshua to embody the meaning of the name itself, which is a savior; thus, Yeshua, which in English is Jesus, is the Hebrew name for the savior.
Why Jesus is called Yeshua in Jewish
Hebrew is the original language of Jews. Aramaic and Yiddish are also spoken by Jews. The name Yeshua is a Hebrew translation of the name Jesus. When translated into English, Yeshua is written as Joshua. As a result, in Jewish tradition, Jesus is known as Yeshua, which translates to “Saviour” in Hebrew. In Hebrew, the names Jesus and Joshua mean the same thing: savior.
When did Yeshua change to Jesus?
The name Yeshua Changed to Jesus in the early 14th century. The letter J was discovered then; it was not part of the original name transliterated from Greek to mean Jesus. The letter J was also not part of the Greek and Hebrew language until later.
The name quickly gained popularity in the first century Judea. Many people went by the name, and Jesus was often set apart by adding his hometown to his name; thus, he was known as Jesus of Nazareth. Mark 1:24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
Which bible version calls Jesus Yeshua?
The original 1611 King James Version may have referred to Jesus as Yeshua. This Bible version was written before the development of the English language into what it is today. Many of the names and translations are almost identical to Hebrew or Greek, and the name commonly referred to as Jesus is Iesus, a Hebrew translation of Yeshua.
What religion believes in Yeshua?
It is implied that Messianic Judaism is a religion that honors Yeshua. They are a group of kosher-hearted Jewish members who consider Yeshua—the Hebrew name for Jesus—to be both the world’s and their savior. They hold that Jesus followed the Torah and taught about it and that he was an ancestor of Abraham and King David. They also think that Yeshua visited the synagogue and came there to fulfill the Torah. The only members of the religion were Jews.
Why is there a controversy over the name Yeshua?
The name Yeshua is mired in controversy because everyone interprets it differently. Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus, but when translated directly into English, it becomes Joshua.
Many people question the meaning of the name Jesus because the letter J was not originally part of Hebrew or Greek, the languages in which the Bible was written. The name Jesus is formed later when it is transliterated. It is also speculated that the Jews rejected this name as “savior” because it represented the God of the Christians, whom the Jews did not recognize.
Another school of thought holds that the name Jesus appears only in the New Testament and may have been invented by modern man, and thus does not refer to God or the Savior. Despite all of these theories, there is no direct reference in the Bible to show that the name Yeshua did not refer to Jesus. It is also worth noting that Jesus can be addressed in any language other than Hebrew, and He will respond.
Why do we not use Jesus’ name in Hebrew today?
Many theologians from One for Israel Bible College believe that the name Jesus is no longer used in Hebrew because it is strongly associated with the Christian religion, which Jews reject. It is believed that the Jews disagreed with the entire teaching about Jesus and Him Being God’s son. Furthermore, Jews are said to reject the trinity of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
As a result, many believe that the name Jesus is not commonly used in Hebrew. The Jews believed in only one God. To them, the trinity or Jesus represented polytheism, or the worship of multiple Gods, contrary to their religious beliefs. The Jews speak Hebrew, and the name Jesus was unknown to them, as it was not found in the original Hebrew and Greek versions of the Bible. The name is thought to be used by Messianic Jews, but it is not spelled Jesus; instead, it retains the Hebrew version of Yeshua.
Should Christians consider calling Jesus by his Jewish name?
It makes no difference what language Christians use to refer to Jesus. There are numerous languages and names used to refer to Jesus. The Bible is silent on the language Christians should use when praying to Jesus. So, whether you pray in English, French, your native language, Russian, German, or Jewish, Jesus is said to hear and answer you.
Because Jesus is not a man who is limited in the languages he speaks, scholars believe that Christians can pray in any language they are comfortable speaking to their God, Jesus, and he will still hear and understand them. According to Acts 2:21, the only rule in the Bible for salvation is to call on the name of the Lord. Whichever language or name you prefer to use when calling on Jesus is entirely up to you and has no bearing on whether or not your prayers are heard by Jesus.
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
