Is It Jesus or Yeshua? What Yeshua Really Means
Jesus—one of the most recognizable names in all of history. When many hear this name spoken, it calls to mind an image of a man who has a beard, long hair, and a white robe. But is this an accurate depiction of the real Jesus, or Yeshua in Hebrew, and all that His name encompasses?
If we want to truly understand the power that the name of God possesses, let’s move past what we have been told; instead, let us look through the lens of Hebraic culture and dive into the scriptures that reveal the mystery of Yeshua.
Jesus was never referred to as such by those who knew Him. His name was Yeshua.
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”—Matthew 1:21 (emphasis added)
The Orthodox Jewish Bible translates it this way…
“And she shall bear BEN (Son) and you will call SHMO (his name, Zech 6:12) YEHOSHUA (Zech 6:11-12) because he will bring his people yeshuah (rescue, salvation, deliverance) from their peyshaim (rebellions).”—Mattityahu 1:21 (OJB)
This gives us a clue as to the depth of the name Jesus, or Yeshua: He will save.
The Depth of Meaning in the Name Jesus, or Yeshua
Yeshua comes from the root Hebrew word yasha, which means “to deliver or save.”
Here is a short list of what the word yasha, and the name Jesus or Yeshua, encompasses…
- Saved in battle
- Placed in freedom
- Made sufficient
- Made wide
- Given victory to
- To avenge
- To defend
- To preserve
- To help
We pray that these phrases help you read the Word through a clearer lens—one that will help you claim your identity in Yeshua.
Read the following verses. Decree, declare, and activate them so that they will be manifested in your life as they are written in Heaven.
- “Whoever walks blamelessly will be saved, but he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.”—Proverbs 28:18
- “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.”—Numbers 10:9
- “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’”—2 Corinthians 12:9a
- “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”—Jude 24-25
When you say, “Jesus” or “Yeshua,” you are really saying…
- Salvation
- Deliverance
- Rescue
- Defense
- Freedom
- Victory
Jesus, or Yeshua, is fully man, but He is also fully God. He is the great I AM. He is eternal, the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and end of all things.
“And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’”—Exodus 3:14
There is power in the name of God. Yet, when we do not fully understand the enormity of His name, we grieve the Spirit. God wants to be our everything, but when we cannot see how He is everything our searching souls long for, it blunts our faith.
Speak Truth about Who Jesus, or Yeshua, Really Is
Our mouths are to decree what is good, pure, noble, and in alignment with God’s Word for the purpose of benefiting all who will listen. When we speak of things that are not edifying, God grieves.
“…‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’… Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”—Ephesians 4:25, 29-30
We cannot speak truth if we do not identify with it. The truth of all that Yeshua is empowers you to live in alignment with Him.
It is our choice and responsibility to activate that alignment by returning to God and living according to His Word, that is Yeshua, and not the traditions or understanding of man.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”—John 1:1-5
How Did We Get the Name Jesus from Yeshua?
Jesus was translated from the Greek name Eisous (or Yesous). Eisous was the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Yeshua. The name Jesus was not spoken during His time on earth. In fact, the name Jesus was not used until the Council of Nicea in the 4th century.
What Can We Do with This Information?
You see, the name of Jesus, or Yeshua, is so much more than what we might think at first. In that one name is the mystery of all we could ever and will ever need or want.
Do you believe this? If so, then it’s time to activate all that name has done and will do for you!
The name of Yeshua should be where we go for all things. He is the answer to everything our soul longs for. We are covered by His blood and have been freed from death, so then, let us awaken and rejoice!
“[T]hat… your faith… may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.”—1 Peter 1:7-9 (emphasis added)
God’s Word says that His name is a strong tower, and the righteous run to it and are safe (see Proverbs 18:10).
We challenge you today to run to the name of Yeshua and all that it holds. He is the Creator of everything.
Are you allowing Him to recreate you?
Place every need, praise, and desire under that name and surrender to His will. Then have the courage to walk out your faith in the name of Yeshua.
Ask the Spirit of God to speak to you about the areas that you haven’t brought under the power of Yeshua. Is He calling you to repent in a certain area so that His power can be released, and you can experience the true victory that the name of Yeshua claims?
Then spend time in His Word, reclaim any of your lost inheritance, and run to your strong tower.
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