Does Jesus Have a Real Name?

Yes, Jesus did have an original name in his native language, which differs from the name commonly used today.

Understanding the Name "Jesus"

The name Jesus is the most widely recognized form in English-speaking cultures, revered by billions worldwide. However, the historical figure known as Jesus of Nazareth, living in the 1st century, would not have been called "Jesus" by his family, friends, or contemporaries.

Jesus' Original Name: Yeshua

His authentic name, spoken in Hebrew or Aramaic, was Yeshua (ישוע). This name was quite common during that historical period. Interestingly, Yeshua translates directly to Joshua in English.

The transition from Yeshua to Jesus involved a fascinating linguistic journey through several languages:

• Original Hebrew/Aramaic: The name was Yeshua. This is a shortened form of Yehoshua, meaning "the Lord is salvation" or "the Lord saves."
• Greek Transliteration: When the Hebrew scriptures and oral traditions were committed to writing in Greek (the common language of the Roman Empire and the language in which the New Testament was written), Yeshua was transliterated into Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς). Greek does not have a "sh" sound, so the "s" sound was substituted, and a common masculine ending "–ous" was added.
• Latin Adoption: From Greek, the name entered Latin as Iesus. The "-ous" ending from Greek was dropped, and the "j" sound, as we know it in English, did not exist in classical Latin, so it retained an "i" sound.
• English Evolution: Finally, when the Bible was translated into English, the Latin Iesus evolved into Jesus. The letter "J" and its distinct "juh" sound were later developments in the English language, emerging much later than the time of Jesus himself.

Name Evolution at a Glance

The table below illustrates the linguistic journey of Jesus' name:

Therefore, while Jesus is the widely accepted and reverent name used today, understanding its linguistic origins reveals that his original, real name was Yeshua.