Understanding the Meaning of Jesus Christ's Name (in Hebrew)

So many of us utter the name of Jesus every day. But have you ever stopped and thought to yourself, 'what does the name Jesus mean?'

To understand the name and meaning of Jesus Christ, we'll have to go deep into the roots, particularly the name's Hebrew origins. From there, we'll see why the name is unique and why it perfectly fits Jesus Christ and his mission to save humanity and those who believe in Him.

The Definition of Jesus and Its Meaning

The name 'Jesus' comes from Hebrew origins 'Yeshua or Yeshua. It's steeped in Semitic roots and has the meaning, 'to rescue, or to deliver.'

Jesus' name was reasonably common in the 2nd century AD among Jews, and the term 'Jesus of Nazareth' was often used to separate Him from the rest. God the Father who decreed his Son should be named 'Jesus' when angels appeared to Joseph while dreaming. In Matthew 1:21, it stated:

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Incidentally speaking, 'Jesus' is the human name of Christ whom God had given.

In essential words, the name Jesus means Savior, one who will save people from their sins. It served as a sign of the things to come and His mission when he walked the Earth.

The Easton's Bible Dictionary has the name 'Jesus' as a Greek form of 'Joshua' in Hebrew context. Joshua is a derivative of the word 'Hoshea,' seen in Numbers 13:16 and Numbers 13:8. Moses changed the word into 'Jehoshua,' which turned into Jeshua and finally, into its Greek root, Jesus.

Then there's the word 'Christ,' which ultimately means 'anointed' in the same dictionary. In Greek roots, the term 'anointed' equals 'Messiah' in Hebrew, a title given to Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 16:15-16, Acts 18:5 and Acts 17:3). In the Old Testament, the word 'Messiah' carried a heavy emphasis because it signaled the things to come (Genesis 3:15, Deuteronomy 18:15-18, and Psalm 22).

The Importance of Jesus' Name

Christians believe that Jesus' name holds power, and for this reason, they utter His name when they pray.

Now we know that the direct meaning of 'Jesus' is God's Son who saves people from their sins. The word 'Jesus' itself, when defined, means 'Savior,' plain and simple.

The connection is both evident and profound at the same time. With the addition of the word 'Christ,' we come upon a complete understanding of what He represents.

Jesus Christ is both holy and human in that it means he is God's representative on Earth. He is different from other people named Jesus because both 'Jesus' and 'Christ' signify a one-of-a-kind meaning on several fronts.

Jesus Christ's name is often mentioned along with the word 'Salvation.' It's only natural because God said in John 3:16 that he gave up his only begotten Son so God may forgive the sins of the world. To fulfill this promise and signify to the world that the Savior has come, God has given the name 'Jesus Christ,' which means Savior and Messiah.

The message is clear- belief in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior, and God will cleanse you of your sins. He saves people from their sins by making the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus died on the cross to save the humans from their sins. Belief in Jesus as Savior and repentance for your sins will save you from certain death.

The words 'Jesus Christ' also carry power in terms of faith, salvation, and prayer. Some experience peace no otherworldly possessions can bring, while others see Jesus as a symbol of hope for the lost and the unworthy. God promises that all you have to do is believe in Him through Jesus, and you will be saved.

The name Jesus is itself a promise to a bright future. Believers will cling to Jesus Christ's name since God himself sent his Son and made him manifest in the flesh to show the world that God is salvation and He will carry out His promise.

Praying in Jesus' Name

It's a common (and revered practice) that prayers end in '...in Jesus' name we pray, amen'. But what does this mean for the person and his or her faith?

The utterance of Jesus' name in prayer is more or less the same- people believe that His name has power. Therefore, it must never be said in vain but only to honor and call upon Him. One stern example comes from the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:7.

You can read a reminder not to use God's name in vain in Philippians 2:9-11. God has exalted Him and gave him a name that's above every other. Furthermore, at the mere utterance of the word, 'Jesus, ' everyone will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The word 'Jesus' has come up 987 times in New Testament text alone. What's more interesting is that Jesus has appeared in every New Testament book, except for 3 John. In Matthew 1:21, Jesus was to be the name given to Mary and Joseph's baby as revealed by angels. In John 1:29, the Bible reinforced the notion that Jesus was sent to Earth to save us from our sins as the 'Lamb of God.' Upon closer scrutiny, there were only three instances where 'Iesous' referred to Joshua- in Hebrews 4:8, Acts 7:45, and Luke 3:29.

Conclusion

The name Jesus can come up on the Collins English dictionary, HarperCollins publishers, or even on word finder and crossword puzzles. Still, its deeper meaning is beyond letters and its Hebrew origin. Lord Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world so we can be saved, and those who call his name' will have eternal life.

God is salvation represented through the physical form of Jesus Christ when he came upon our world. It shows how the prophecy of an upcoming 'Messiah' is fulfilled with the attachment of the word 'Christ,' and with the addition of Jesus in the name, there's no doubt that salvation was made manifest.

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