The Name of Jesus!

Mike Hosey, An Elder

One marvelous evening, the angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph in dream and announced to him that Mary would have a child, and that they would name him Jesus. He explained how this name was appropriate because the child will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Joseph obeyed the angel’s message and they named their miraculous child, Jesus. For those of us who believe, the rest is history. But what, exactly, is the origin of that now wonderful name?

The New Testament is written primarily in Greek. Since the writers of the gospels were advancing their narrative in a mostly Greek world, they used a greek word to translate the Hebrew name given to Joseph by the angel Gabriel. Joseph and Mary were Hebrew.  So the name that Gabriel gave them was a Hebrew name. That name was Yeshua. So follow this if you can.  Jesus is the English transliteration for the Greek version of the Hebrew name, Yeshua. The name means, essentially, “God is our salvation.” Think about that in terms of the other name that Gabriel used.  He also said that his name was Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). That name means, “God with us.”

Interestingly, if you read through the Old Testament, you will find over and over again the English word, “salvation.”  It is frequently translated from the word, “Yeshua,” which is the Hebrew name for Jesus. Just a few examples (randomly picked) are Psalm 70:4, Psalm 74:12, and Psalm 88:1.

Now, consider that Gabriel told Joseph that Jesus would rescue his people from their sins. His statement assumes ownership, and implies common experience. In his humanity, Jesus is one of us. And when we choose to follow him, we are his people. He has lived with us and walked among us (John 1:14). In fact, he has experienced the temptations that we have (Hebrews 4:15), but has not sinned. He is God with us (Immanuel), and the one who saves us (Yeshua)!