Why do we use Jesus instead of Yeshua?

The name “Jesus” is used instead of “Yeshua” primarily due to linguistic and translational history. This transliteration process, typical for many biblical names and terms, reflects the progression from Hebrew, through Greek and Latin, to English.

Here’s a detailed explanation of this linguistic and translational history:

Hebrew and Aramaic Origins

• Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ): This is the original Hebrew and Aramaic name for Jesus, meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” It was a common name in the Jewish community.

Greek Translation

• Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς): The New Testament was written in Koine Greek. Greek, unlike Hebrew, did not have a “sh” (ש) sound. Therefore, “Yeshua” was transliterated into Greek as “Iēsous.” This transliteration involved a few key changes:
• The initial “Y” sound (yod) was changed to an “I” sound because Greek words do not start with a “Y.”
• The Hebrew “sh” sound (shin) was replaced with the Greek “s” sound (sigma).
• Greek nouns typically have a nominative case ending, so “s” (sigma) was added to the end of the name to form “Iēsous.”

Latin Influence

• Iesus: The Greek “Iēsous” was transliterated into Latin as “Iesus.” Latin maintained the nominative case ending, but since Latin uses “I” for the “J” sound in some contexts, it stayed as “Iesus.”

Old English and Evolution to Modern English

• Iesus to Jesus: In Old English, “Iesus” was used, derived from the Latin “Iesus.” Over time, the English language evolved:
• The letter “J” was introduced in the English alphabet, originating from the letter “I” but used to represent the “j” sound (a linguistic development from the 16th century onward).
• Thus, “Iesus” gradually became “Jesus” as the pronunciation and spelling conventions in English changed.

The Role of the Septuagint

• Septuagint Influence: The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Septuagint, translated the Hebrew name “Yehoshua” (another form of Joshua) as “Iēsous.” This translation influenced how names were rendered in Greek and later Latin and English.

Cultural and Linguistic Adaptation

• Adoption in Christian Worship and Texts: As Christianity spread, the Greek and Latin forms of biblical names became standardized in liturgy, scripture, and theological writings. The use of “Jesus” in English Bibles and Christian practice reflects this historical and linguistic heritage.

Summary of the Name Transition

1. Yeshua (Hebrew/Aramaic): Original name meaning “Yahweh is salvation.”
2. Iēsous (Greek): Greek transliteration, adapting to Greek phonetic and grammatical rules.
3. Iesus (Latin): Latin transliteration from Greek.
4. Jesus (English): Modern English form, evolving from Latin through Old English.

Theological and Cultural Considerations

• Cultural Context: Names often adapt to the linguistic norms of the cultures adopting them. This process ensures that the name is pronounceable and recognizable within the new language context.
• Theological Continuity: Despite the changes in pronunciation and spelling, the theological significance of the name remains intact across languages.

Literal Translation Perspective

From a literal translation perspective, the correct English name for “Yeshua” (יֵשׁוּעַ) would be “Joshua.” This is because “Yeshua” is the shortened form of “Yehoshua” (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ), which is directly translated to “Joshua” in English.

Breakdown of Literal Translation

1. Hebrew Name:

• Yehoshua (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ): The full form of the name in Hebrew.
• Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ): The shortened form used during the Second Temple period.

1. English Equivalent:

• The name “Yehoshua” or “Yeshua” is translated to “Joshua” in English.
• The Old Testament figure known as Joshua (the successor of Moses) bears the same name in Hebrew (Yehoshua/Yeshua).

Why “Jesus” Instead of “Joshua” for Yeshua in the New Testament?

• Transliteration Pathway:
• Yeshua (Hebrew) -> Iēsous (Greek) -> Iesus (Latin) -> Jesus (English).
• This pathway shows the transliteration rather than a direct translation. The name “Jesus” in English comes from the Greek “Iēsous” rather than directly from the Hebrew “Yeshua.”
• Maintaining Theological Distinction:
• “Jesus” is used to distinguish Jesus Christ from other historical figures named Joshua, maintaining theological clarity in the New Testament context.

Literal Translation Summary

• Literal Translation: “Yeshua” (יֵשׁוּעַ) -> “Joshua” in English.
• New Testament Usage: “Iēsous” (Ἰησοῦς) -> “Jesus” in English, due to the transliteration from Greek.

Addressing the Controversy over the Letter J

The debate over the letter J is largely unnecessary. While it’s true that Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek—the original languages of the Bible—do not have a letter J, this does not mean we can’t use names like “Jesus,” “Jerusalem,” or “Judah” in English. It’s perfectly acceptable for English speakers to use English spellings. For example, Americans write “Savior,” while the British write “Saviour.” The slight variation in spelling doesn’t change the identity or meaning. Jesus is the Savior, regardless of whether His name is spelled Jesus, Yeshua, or Iesus.

Nor does the Bible doesn’t mandate that we must speak or write Jesus’ name only in Hebrew or Greek. On the Day of Pentecost, the apostles proclaimed the gospel in various languages—“Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene” (Acts 2:9–10). Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus was made known in many languages, demonstrating that the exact spelling was not crucial.

We call Him “Jesus” because, as English speakers, we know Him through English translations of the Greek New Testament. Scripture does not prioritize one language over another and gives no indication that Hebrew is required to address the Lord. The command is to “call on the name of the Lord,” with the promise that we “shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). No matter the language—be it English, Hebrew, Spanish, or German—the result is the same: the Lord is salvation.

Conclusion

“Jesus” is the result of the transliteration process through Greek and Latin into English, which is why it is used in the New Testament and Christian tradition.