Where did the name "Jesus" come from?

The Name Given by Heaven

Yehoshua (יהושע) is the Hebrew name given to the Savior and Mashiach by the messenger of Y’hovah. The angel’s message to Miryam (Mary) and Yosef (Joseph) was not random—it was divine instruction. The name Yehoshua means “Y’hovah is salvation,” a direct revelation of His mission and nature.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.”
(Mattityahu [Matthew] 1:21, CJB)

This name carries the same meaning as the name given to Yehoshua bin Nun (Joshua son of Nun) by Moshe in Bemidbar [Numbers] 13:16, which reads:

“And Moshe called Hoshea the son of Nun, Yehoshua.” (TS2009)

Through this name, we see that salvation is not a concept—it is a Person, and that Person bears the Name of the One who saves: Y’hovah Himself.

From Hebrew to Greek to English

During the first century, Aramaic was widely spoken among the people of Yisrael. In Aramaic, Yehoshua was often rendered Yeshua, a shortened but linguistically valid form of the same Hebrew name. Thus, during His earthly life, the Mashiach was called Yeshua by His talmidim and the people around Him.

As the Good News spread beyond Yisrael into the Greek-speaking world, the name was transliterated—not translated—into Greek as Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous). Greek lacks the “sh” sound and the final “a” ending common in Hebrew masculine names, so Yeshua became Iēsous.

Later, during the Latin period of the Western church (4th–14th centuries), Iēsous became Iesus. When English adopted this name in the 16th century, the letter “J” was introduced to distinguish the consonant sound that developed later in the English language. Thus, Iesus became Jesus.

These changes were linguistic, not theological. Yet, over time, many lost the connection between Jesus and the Hebrew Yehoshua, whose name reveals His divine identity.

Does the Name Matter?

Some claim, “It doesn’t matter what name we use; God knows who we mean.” While this may seem humble, Scripture reveals that names hold sacred significance, especially those chosen by Y’hovah Himself.

“There is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
(Acts 4:12, CJB)

The Name of Y’hoshua is not a mere label—it is a testimony of who He is. When we call upon the Name Y’hoshua, we are declaring: “Y’hovah is salvation.” The power of His Name is not in pronunciation alone but in the truth it represents.

Nevertheless, using the Name given by the Father aligns us with divine revelation and honors the covenant meaning behind it.

Restoring His True Name

Restoring the Hebrew name of our Mashiach is not about rejecting those who use “Jesus,” but about returning to the authenticity of what Y’hovah revealed. In Yochanan [John] 17:11, Y’hoshua prayed:

“Holy Father, guard them by the power of your name, which you have given to me, so that they may be one, just as we are.” (CJB)

This shows that the Name of the Father is embedded in the Name of the Son. Y’hoshua literally means “Y’hovah saves.” His very identity bears witness to His unity with the Father.

To call upon Y’hoshua HaMashiach is to call upon Y’hovah’s salvation. It restores the beauty and depth of the relationship between the Father and the Son, and reminds us that redemption originates in Y’hovah’s own heart.

Language changes, but truth does not. While “Jesus” became common through linguistic evolution, the original Name Y’hoshua carries the divine message of who He truly is—the salvation of Y’hovah.

As talmidim of HaMashiach, we rejoice to use the Name given by our Heavenly Father and spoken by our Rabbi Himself. It reminds us that salvation is not man-made, nor is it cultural—it is eternal.

“And this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true Elohim, and Y’hoshua the Mashiach whom You sent.”
(Yochanan [John] 17:3, TS2009)

By Rabbi Francisco Arbas — Netzari Mashiach Judaism
www.netzarim-talmidim.org