Origin and History of the Name Jesus: Etymology and Biblical Meaning
1. The Name Jesus in Etymology
The English name Jesus first appeared in the late 12th century. Its pathway through history follows a linguistic chain that reveals its theological meaning:
Hebrew: Yehoshua → “Yahweh is salvation”
Aramaic/Hebrew (later form): Yeshua → common name in post-exilic Judaism
Greek: Iesous → rendering of Yeshua in the Septuagint and New Testament
Latin: Iesus → standard in the early church and Western Christianity
English: Jesus → established in late medieval and early modern usage
The meaning of the name is not accidental. Matthew makes this explicit: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The etymology proclaims the Gospel itself: salvation belongs to the Lord, and it comes in the person of Jesus Christ.
2. Hebrew Roots of the Name
The Hebrew Yehoshua combines two parts:
Yeho – short for Yahweh, the covenant name of God
Shua – meaning “to save” or “salvation”
Over time, this name shortened into Yeshua, which became widely used after the Babylonian exile. Several figures in Scripture bear this form:
Joshua son of Nun – the leader who brought Israel into the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1–2).
Jeshua the high priest – who worked with Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3:2).
These earlier “saviors” prepare the way for Jesus. Joshua led God’s people into rest, and Jeshua restored worship, but Jesus fulfills both roles perfectly. Hebrews explains: “If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on” (Hebrews 4:8). Jesus provides the eternal Sabbath rest and becomes the great high priest who secures redemption (Hebrews 9:12).
3. The Name Jesus in Greek and Latin
When Jewish Scripture was translated into Greek (the Septuagint), Yeshua became Iesous. This same form appears throughout the New Testament.
From Greek, the name entered Latin as Iesus, pronounced in three syllables, closer to “Yeh-soos.” Latin usage spread through:
Liturgical prayers – In nomine Iesu (“In the name of Jesus”)
Devotional formulas – “Jesu mercy” or “Jesu joy” in medieval hymns
Bible translations – the Vulgate used Iesus consistently
Through Latin, the name traveled into Old French and then English, where Middle English forms like Jesu/Iesu were common. The modern spelling Jesus became fixed by the time of the King James Bible (1611).
4. The Name Jesus in English Tradition
Before Latin influence, Old English rarely used the name Jesus. Instead, Christ was often called hælend (“savior” or “healer”). After the Norman Conquest, French and Latin forms shaped English devotion.
Middle English speakers often used the shortened Jesu. Examples include:
Prayers – “Jesu mercy, Jesu save”
Literature – Chaucer and other writers invoked Jesu in oaths or petitions
Hymns – devotional poetry often ended with “Jesu” as an invocation
The eventual shift from I to J reflects broader changes in English spelling. By the early modern era, Jesus became the standard form.
5. Theological Significance of the Name
The Bible treats names as revelatory. They express identity and mission. The name Jesus directly expresses His saving purpose:
Matthew 1:21 – “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Acts 4:12 – “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Philippians 2:9–10 – “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.”
The significance of the name shows up in three key ways:
Salvation – the Lord rescues from sin and death.
Exclusivity – no other name offers salvation.
Eschatology – all creation will bow before the name of Jesus.
6. The Name Jesus and the Bigger Gospel
Too often, the name Jesus is understood narrowly as personal forgiveness. But the meaning “the Lord saves” stretches across the whole story of redemption.
Consider the broader scope:
Israel’s fulfillment – Jesus is the true Joshua who leads His people into rest.
Covenant promises – every promise of God finds its “Yes” in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Nations included – salvation is not only for Israel but also for Gentiles.
Creation renewed – the salvation in Jesus extends to the restoration of the world.
This bigger Gospel perspective ties the name directly to eschatology. Jesus is not only the one who saves but the one who will return to consummate salvation. His name, rooted in history and language, points forward to the doctrine of last things: the day when every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Conclusion
The name Jesus carries a history that spans Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Latin, and English. Each stage preserves the central truth: “The Lord saves.” From Joshua son of Nun to Jeshua the high priest, from the Septuagint to the New Testament, the etymology traces a line that culminates in the Savior of the world.
Etymology here is not merely academic. It reveals the heart of the Gospel. In the doctrine of last things, eschatology promises that the name of Jesus will be confessed by all nations. The origin and history of His name testify to the faithfulness of God across time, language, and culture.
Bible Verses about the Name Jesus
“You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“Let it be known to all of you that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.” (Acts 4:10)
“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:23)
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.” (Philippians 2:9)
“So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” (Philippians 2:10)
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Colossians 3:17)
“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
