The question of why Jesus is called “Jesus” rather than Yeshua (the Hebrew name for Jesus) involves the historical development of language and translation. Here’s an explanation of the process, along with some biblical references:
1. The Hebrew Name “Yeshua”
The name Yeshua (ישוע) is a Hebrew and Aramaic name, which is a shortened form of Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻעַ), meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” Yeshua was a common name in the 1st century Jewish world and was used by several figures in the Bible, including Joshua (in the Old Testament) and Jesus (in the New Testament).
- Matthew 1:21:
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
The name Yeshua is directly connected to the meaning of salvation, pointing to the role of Jesus as the Savior of humanity.
2. The Transition from “Yeshua” to “Jesus”
The name Yeshua was transliterated into Greek as Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) in the New Testament. This change is due to the differences between the Hebrew and Greek languages, particularly in how they handle consonant and vowel sounds. In Greek, the “sh” sound in Yeshua is not easily pronounced, so it was rendered as Iēsous. Additionally, the Greek language often ends names with a vowel sound, so “Yeshua” became “Iēsous.”
- Matthew 1:21 (Greek):
“καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν, ὅτι αὐτὸς σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν.”
(“You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”)
When the New Testament was translated into Latin, the Greek name Iēsous became Iesus in Latin. As the Bible was translated into other languages, particularly into English, the Latin form “Iesus” evolved into Jesus.
3. The English Translation: “Jesus”
The English name Jesus is derived from the Latin Iesus, which in turn comes from the Greek Iēsous. English-speaking Christians began using the name “Jesus” as the common translation of Yeshua because of the linguistic development through Greek and Latin.
4. Biblical and Historical Context
The Bible does not directly explain the transition from Yeshua to Jesus but provides the name Iēsous (Jesus) in the Greek texts of the New Testament. In the New Testament, the apostles and early Christians would have spoken Aramaic and Hebrew, but the New Testament was written in Greek, so the name of Jesus appears as Iēsous in Greek texts.
- John 19:19:
“Pilate also wrote a notice and fastened it to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
The use of the name Jesus (Ιησούς) in the Greek text of the New Testament was likely how His followers identified Him, and this name was carried through in the translation into various languages.
5. Importance of the Name
While the name Yeshua means “salvation,” the name Jesus carries the same meaning, as it refers to the same person. The key point is not the exact linguistic form of the name but the significance behind it. Jesus (Yeshua) is the one who brings salvation to humanity.
- Matthew 1:21:
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
6. Theological Significance of the Name
Both names, Yeshua and Jesus, emphasize the role of the Son of God as the Savior. The Greek name Iēsous and its English form Jesus are just the results of translational changes. The New Testament writers referred to Jesus as Iēsous in Greek because that was the common name for Him in the language of the day, and the name was recognized as the one that fulfilled God’s promise of salvation.
- Acts 4:12:
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
- Philippians 2:9-11:
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Summary
The name Jesus is the result of a series of translational changes from the original Hebrew Yeshua to Greek Iēsous, and later to Iesus in Latin and Jesus in English. While the name itself changed linguistically over time, its significance remains the same: it points to Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, the one who brings salvation. The use of Jesus is rooted in the common language of the New Testament (Greek) and is the name by which Christians call upon the Lord for salvation.
Key Biblical References
- Matthew 1:21 (Jesus’ name means “salvation”)
- Acts 4:12 (Salvation is found in no one else)
- Philippians 2:9-11 (The exalted name of Jesus)
- John 19:19 (Pilate’s inscription on the cross)