Names in the Bible are never empty. They carry meaning, covenant, and identity. A name could describe a person’s character, reveal their calling, or point to a promise of God. This is why many Christians today ask, “Should we use His Hebrew name Yeshua HaMashiach instead of the common English Jesus Christ?” It is an honest question, but to answer it well, we must look at the languages of Scripture, the meaning of the words themselves, and most importantly, the revelation of who He is. The discussion is not simply about history or pronunciation. It is about the heart of the gospel and the life of Christ that the name represents.
The Hebrew Root of His Name #
The name Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) comes from the Hebrew root yasha (יָשַׁע), which means “to save, deliver, or rescue.” This meaning shines through in the angel’s words to Joseph:
Matthew 1:21
“She will give birth to a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus (the Lord is salvation), for He will save His people from their sins.”
This was not a cultural preference or a popular choice among names in Israel. It was a prophetic declaration. The Father placed the entire mission of redemption inside the very name of His Son. Yeshua means “salvation of Yahweh.” His name was His assignment. Each time His name was spoken aloud, it was a reminder that God Himself had come to rescue His people. This truth alone brings encouragement in our own struggles. When we whisper His name in pain, when we cry out in fear, we are not repeating a label. We are calling on the living Saviour who saves us still.
His Name Fulfilled in His Work #
The Old Testament often used names to mark God’s dealings with His people. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, and Jacob became Israel. Each change marked a covenant promise fulfilled or a new season of calling. In the same way, the name Yeshua points directly to the work of the Cross. The cross was not simply an act of suffering, but the outworking of His name. In His death, Yeshua saved His people from their sins. His name and His mission were one. This shows us that our faith is not anchored in a sound but in a Person. Salvation is not a system, a ritual, or even a religion. Salvation is Christ Himself. He is the living fulfilment of His own name.
The Title HaMashiach #
The title “HaMashiach” adds another layer. The Hebrew word Ha means “the.” The word Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) means “anointed one.” In Israel, priests, prophets, and kings were anointed with oil as a sign that God had chosen and set them apart for His purpose. Oil was a symbol of the Spirit resting on them. In Greek, Mashiach is translated as Christos (Χριστός). From this comes our word “Christ.” Both titles carry the same meaning: “the Anointed One.”
John 1:41
“He first found his own brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah (which translated means the Christ, the Anointed).’”
So when we say Yeshua HaMashiach, we are declaring “Jesus the Anointed One.” When we say Jesus Christ, we are saying the same thing. The heart of the matter is not which language we use, but whether we truly recognise Him as God’s Anointed King. His anointing was not with oil poured on His head but with the Spirit of God without measure. He is the One in whom all the roles of prophet, priest, and king are complete.
Why We Say Jesus in English #
Over time, Scripture moved across cultures and languages. As it did, the name changed form but never meaning. From Hebrew Yeshua came Greek Iēsous. From Greek into Latin, it became Iesus. From Latin into English, it became Jesus. The meaning did not shift in any of these changes. It always remained “Yahweh saves.” Only the sound changed with the tongue of each nation.
This is the beauty of the gospel. It was never meant to be locked inside one language or one culture. The name of the Lord is for every nation. Whether a child in Africa whispers “Jesu,” or a believer in India cries “Yesu,” or a brother in Israel says “Yeshua,” it is the same Saviour who answers. He is the Christ of all nations, and His salvation is not bound to Hebrew syllables.
The Authority of His Name #
Paul captures this in one of the most powerful passages of Scripture:
Philippians 2:9–11
“For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord [sovereign God], to the glory of God the Father.”
Notice this: Paul wrote in Greek, not Hebrew. Yet the Spirit honoured the name “Jesus” with the same power as “Yeshua.” The authority lies not in the sound of the letters but in the Person Himself. His name has power because of who He is and what He has accomplished. This is why demons trembled at His command, why sickness fled at His touch, and why even death could not hold Him.
This is also why His name steadies us when life feels overwhelming. We do not cry out to a ritual or a formula. We call on the risen Lord who lives in us. When we face trials, adversity, or even death, His name reminds us that our salvation is not fragile. It is rooted in the One who already triumphed.
The Power at Work in Us #
The real power of His name is revealed when His life is at work in us. It is not about correct pronunciation but about real transformation. The Spirit reveals Christ in us and through us. This happens when:
- We walk in union with Christ.
- We are led by His Spirit.
- We put Adam and the flesh to death.
- We live alive in Christ, carrying His authority.
This is how His name is honoured in the earth. Not by debates over syllables, but by lives that reflect His life.
Common Misunderstandings #
Some people argue that only the name Yeshua HaMashiach is valid, and that Jesus Christ is false. This claim has no support in Scripture or history. The apostles, when preaching to Gentiles, used the Greek form Iēsous Christos. The Spirit confirmed their preaching with salvation, miracles, and the rapid growth of the Church. Clearly, God did not limit His power to Hebrew speech.
The Book of Revelation also reminds us that Christ has a new name (Revelation 3:12). This name goes beyond every human language. To insist on only one form of His name is to shrink the gospel. The glory of His name is that it stretches across every language and reaches every nation under heaven.
An Example to Encourage Us #
One of the clearest examples comes from the thief on the cross. He was moments away from death. He did not know Hebrew or Greek. He had no time to study correct names. He simply turned to the Lord beside him and said:
Luke 23:42
“Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And the Lord answered him with life:
Luke 23:43
“Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
This man did not use the Hebrew Yeshua. He spoke the name in his own tongue. What mattered was not the sound but the heart of faith. And the Saviour received him. This is the gospel in its purest form. Salvation is not in syllables but in the living Christ who saves to the uttermost.
Living in the Reality of His Name #
So whether you use Yeshua or Jesus, what matters most is whether Christ is alive in you. Do you walk by His Spirit? Are you dead to Adam and alive in Him? Do you carry His presence into your daily struggles, into your workplace, into your family? That is the true test. His name is honoured not by our lips alone but by our lives.
When we face stress, adversity, or grief, we do not need to fear that we used the wrong pronunciation. We need to remember the reality. His name means salvation. His name is Deliverance. His name is Hope. When you feel broken, whisper His name and remember that God Himself has come near. When you walk through trials, speak His name and remember that He is the anointed King who reigns. When death itself casts its shadow, cling to His name and know that resurrection life is yours.
Final Word #
The debate over Yeshua or Jesus can sometimes distract us from the deeper truth. The gospel is not about cultural forms but about eternal reality. His name in any tongue points to the same Person: the Saviour of the world, the Anointed One, the Christ. What matters is that His life fills us, His Spirit leads us, and His authority is revealed in us. That is the true honour of His name.
In Christ,
Godwin.
