Names carry meaning, covenant, and identity in Scripture. Many believers today ask whether we should call Jesus by His Hebrew name “Yeshua HaMashiach” instead of the common English rendering “Jesus Christ.” To answer this, we must look at the biblical languages, the meaning of the words themselves, and the revelation of who He is.
The Hebrew Root of His Name #
The name Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) comes from the Hebrew root yasha (יָשַׁע), which means “to save, deliver, or rescue.”
Matthew 1:21 (AMP)
“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 is not just a historical label or cultural name—it is a prophetic declaration of His mission. The Father wrapped the entire plan of redemption into the very name of His Son.
- Yeshua = Salvation of Yahweh.
- His name is His assignment.
- Every time His name was spoken, it was a reminder: God Himself has come to deliver His people.
Meaning of Yeshua #
| Hebrew Word | Root Meaning | Fulfilment in Christ |
|---|---|---|
| Yasha (יָשַׁע) | To save, deliver, rescue | Jesus delivers from sin, death, and judgment |
| Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) | Salvation of Yahweh | His very identity is Salvation |
| Emmanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל) | God with us | The same One who saves is God Himself dwelling among us |
The beauty of this is that God did not send a saviour—He became the Saviour. The eternal Word put on flesh, so that salvation is not a system, not a ritual, not a law, but a Person.
The cross, then is not simply an event, but the very outworking of His name—Yeshua, saving His people from their sins.
The Title “HaMashiach” #
The word “Ha” in Hebrew means “the.”
The word “Mashiach” (מָשִׁיחַ) means “anointed one.” It was used for priests, kings, and prophets who were set apart with oil.
In Greek, this becomes Christos (Χριστός). From this, we get the word “Christ.” Both terms carry the same meaning, “the Anointed One.”
John 1:41 AMP — “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.”
Why We Say “Jesus Christ” in English #
When Hebrew was translated into Greek, Yeshua became Iēsous. From Greek into Latin, it became Iesus. And from Latin into English, Jesus. The meaning never changed—it remained “the Lord is salvation.” What changed was only the pronunciation across languages.
| Language | Name Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | Yeshua | Yahweh saves |
| Greek | Iēsous | Yahweh saves |
| Latin | Iesus | Yahweh saves |
| English | Jesus | Yahweh saves |
Hence, both Yeshua HaMashiach and Jesus Christ refer to the same Person—the Son of God, Saviour of the world.
The Deeper Spiritual Meaning #
What matters is not merely the language we use, but the revelation of the Person behind the Name.
Philippians 2:9–11 (AMP)
“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 that Paul wrote in Greek, not Hebrew. Yet the Spirit still honoured the name “Jesus” with the same authority as “Yeshua.” This shows that the power is not in the sound of the word but in the Person to whom it points.
The true power of His Name lies in:
- Union with Christ — being one with Him in Spirit.
- Living by the Spirit — moved and governed by His life.
- Death to Adam and the flesh — no longer ruled by sin.
- Alive in Christ — manifesting His authority and life in us.
So whether you say Yeshua or Jesus, the real question is: Is Christ truly living in you?
Common Misunderstandings #
Some people claim that only the name “Yeshua HaMashiach” is correct and that “Jesus Christ” is a corruption. Yet this idea does not have support in Scripture or history. The apostles, when speaking to Gentiles, used the Greek form Iēsous Christos. They did not restrict the gospel to Hebrew. The Spirit of God confirmed their preaching with miracles, salvation, and the rapid growth of the Church — all in that Greek name.
The Book of Revelation also shows that Christ has a “new name” which goes beyond every earthly language (Revelation 3:12 AMP). Therefore, insisting on only one form of the name can make the gospel smaller, rather than universal. The glory of His Name is that it reaches every tongue, every nation, and every people.
In Christ,
Godwin.
