What was the REAL Name of Jesus?
ReligionForBreakfast・15 minutes read
The evolution of the name "Jesus" from the original Hebrew and Aramaic name "Yeshua" involved transliterations and changes due to language differences, including the addition of the letter "S" and dropping of the guttural letter "Ein." Recent studies suggest that the pronunciation of Jesus' name may not have been as altered by the Galilean accent as previously thought, with variations existing in Semitic languages but lacking conclusive evidence.
Insights
- The name "Jesus" in the New Testament is an English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name "Yeshua," which was likely the pronunciation during the Second Temple period.
- The evolution of the name "Yeshua" to "Jesus" involved changes due to Greek transliterations, the introduction of the letter "J" in English, and debates around the pronunciation of the final syllable, with some suggesting "Yeshu" due to a Galilean accent.
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Recent questions
What is the origin of the name "Jesus"?
Hebrew and Aramaic variations of Joshua.
How did the pronunciation of Jesus' name change over time?
From "Yeshua" to "Jesus" in English.
What role did the Greek language play in the name "Jesus"?
Transliteration of Hebrew name Joshua.
What are the variations in the pronunciation of Jesus' name?
Debates on pronunciation due to accent.
How did the English alphabet influence the spelling of Jesus' name?
Introduction of the letter "J."
Related videos
Summary
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Evolution of Jesus' Name in English
- The name "Jesus" in the New Testament is an English transliteration of the original name of the miracle-working preacher from Nazareth.
- The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, with the name "Jesus" being a transliteration of a Hebrew and Aramaic name, specifically a variation of the name Joshua.
- In Hebrew, there are two versions of the name Joshua: "Yahushua" and "Yeshua," with the latter being a shorter, colloquial version.
- During the Second Temple period, the more common form of the name was "Yeshua," making it the likely pronunciation of Jesus' name.
- The Greek translators of the Septuagint transliterated the Hebrew name Joshua as "Jesus," using the Greek letters to approximate the sounds.
- The evolution of the name from "Yeshua" to "Jesus" involved the addition of the Greek letter "S" and the dropping of the guttural letter "Ein."
- The introduction of the letter "J" in the English alphabet led to the spelling of the name as "Jesus" in English.
- There are debates about the pronunciation of the final syllable in Jesus' name, with some suggesting it was pronounced as "Yeshu" due to a Galilean accent.
- Evidence from later texts like the Babylonian Talmud and other Semitic languages hints at variations in the pronunciation of Jesus' name, but conclusive evidence is lacking.
- Recent studies suggest that the idea of Galileans dropping guttural letters in their speech, affecting the pronunciation of Jesus' name, may be exaggerated.
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Origin of "Yeshu" from Galilean accent
- In East Syriac, the name "Yeshu" likely originated from "Yeshua" with short vowels, influenced by the Galilean accent that lacked vowel length distinctions. This pronunciation difference is evident in later Hebrew Bible manuscripts, where the names for Joshua and Jesus are recorded as "Yeshua." The Galilean accent likely included short vowels and omitted the final "Ein," resulting in variations like "Yeshu" with short vowels and an "Ein" or "Yeshua" with long vowels and a guttural "Ein."
