Can you explain the origin of the name Jesus if he was born a Hebrew and there is no “J” in Hebrew, Greek and Latin languages up until today? As a matter of fact, the letter “J” is the last alphabet added to our English alphabets about 400 years ago.
JESUS means “Yahweh is salvation”. The apostle Matthew explains this even more clearly in Matt 1:21: “She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus is the only one who can save us from our sins. He cares for us!
Jesus is the personal name of the Lord in the Gospels and the Acts, but generally in the Epistles appears in combination with “Christ” or other appellatives (alone in Rom 3:26; 4:24; 1 Cor 12:3; 2 Cor 11:4; Phil 2:10; 1 Thess 4:14; Heb 7:22; 10:19, etc.).
In the original text, which is written in Greek, the name of Jesus is Iesous (ee-ay-sooce’). Notice no J! This name is of Hebrew origin, namely Yehowshuwa` (yeh-ho-shoo’-ah). Again no J.
Jesus is simply the English translation of the Greek “lesous”.
We have a mighty Savior, in whom we can trust. He is willing to forgive you! Will you accept His offer?
Robert Chaffart
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According to Strong’s Jesus (Iesous) comes from Y@howshuwa`, meaning Joshua or Jehoshua = “Jehovah is salvation” .
God bless.
Bruce and Cyndi
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“Jesus” is the Greek form of “Joshua”, which is a respelling of the Hebrew “Yashua” which means “God Saves.” I don’t know if I got the spelling right, but I believe the information is correct.
Ken Sander
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So, what about the name Jesus? His name came originally from the Hebrew name Joshua and means Yahweh saves. When the name was written in Greek it became Iesous pronounced “yea-soos” and also means Yahweh saves — an appropriate title for the author and finisher of the Christian faith. However, many Messianic Jews, and others, turn to his Hebrew name and choose to call Jesus “Yeshua” (Joshua). In Greek, the names Jesus and Joshua are identical, which can cause confusion in those New Testament passages that refer to the Old Testament figure Joshua (cf. Hebrews 4.8). Eventually, when the translators put the Bible into English the name Iesous was anglicized to Jesus.
Interestingly enough, other English sounding names such as Mary and John actually came, via a circuitous route, from Hebrew roots as well. Mary came from Miriam meaning rebellious and John from Yowchanan meaning Yahweh favoured. Indeed, the vast majority of New Testament names have Hebrew roots.
So much for the origins of the names. Why don’t people name their children Jesus? Well, in point of fact many have and still do. In the Bible there are several Jesus’ (and even more if you include Joshuas into the mix). Further, in Hispanic cultures, Jesus is a rather common name (pronounced hay-soos). However, people of European cultures seem to have refrained from naming their children Jesus, perhaps because of the holiness associated with the name. On the other hand, if Jesus means God saves, a revival of the namesake might appropriately take place.
Once upon a time names were considered much more important than they seem to be in our Western culture. Names were messages to the world — and the message from Mary and Joseph was “God saves.” A fitting message then and now.
Viki
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The answer to this week’s Bible question is that God was the origin of the name Jesus Christ.He instructed either Mary or Joseph or both to name the child Jesus.As far as that alphabet stuff,I dont think it applies here.
Dave
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Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua (in English – Joshua. Jesus is the Greek version anglicized. The Hebrew name Yeshua means Saviour and is the same name as that of the man of faith who led the Israelites into Canaan.
God bless you all
John