What S in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 13 of 15)
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What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 1 of 15) Introduction Previously we saw: How the personal name of the Eternal was purposely hidden. How we can (most likely) determine what it is and how to pronounce it. Today I wish to explore: Can we determine the true personal name of our Saviour? Is it important to use the personal names of the Father and the Son? What Should We Call the Son? What about the Son? Is His name also Yah or Yahweh? Yes! And more. While He is individually unique from the Father, He has inherited the name of His Father. His unique, holy and personal name is identified in the NT, using Aramaic translations, from the oldest available text, circa 164 AD, versus the oldest Greek text, which dates from 350 AD. That name, from the Aramaic translation, which is directly translated from the Hebrew, is Yahshua; meaning “Yah’s Salvation”. He has been given other names; e.g. – He is the “Word” (Greek: Logos) in John 1:1. Early in the NT text, His name was to be “JESUS”. Matthew 1:21: And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins. But 2 verses later, He is referenced by an OT name. Matthew 1:23: Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 2 of 15) bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us”. This was a reference to Isaiah 7:14. So, what is His name? The “Word” in John 1:1 is a title, not a personal name. It describes one of His attributes, just as the One known in the OT had many titles describing His attributes. Immanuel could be a personal name, but it is only used in these verses, so it too could be considered more of an attribute versus a personal name. How Did His Name Become “Jesus”? When we examine the word “Jesus”, we get a hint of the origin and proper identity of His real, personal name. Strong’s Greek #2424, Iesous, pronounced “ee-ay-sooce”, of Hebrew origin (#3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites. The transition from Yahshua to Jesus was an attempt to transliterate the original.
Several factors come into play. The English name “Jesus,” which later employed the letter “J,” is a derivation from Greek “Iesous” and the Latin “Iesus” version. What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 3 of 15)
There was no letter ‘J’ in any language prior to the 14th century in England. The letter did not become widely used until the 17th century. The Encyclopedia Americana contains the following quote on the J: “The form of ‘J’ was unknown in any alphabet until the 14th century. Either symbol (J, I) used initially generally had the consonantal sound of Y (as in ‘y’ear). Gradually, the two symbols (J, l) were differentiated, the “J” usually acquiring consonantal force and thus becoming regarded as a consonant, and the “I” becoming a vowel. Not until about 1630 did the differentiation became general in England. The original 1611 version of the KJV had no “J” letter because it officially did not exist. James was spelled I-a-m- e-s. Jesus was spelled I-e-s-u-s. The “u-a” ending in Yahshua’s name in Hebrew when transliterated into Greek is feminine singular, which presented a problem. Thus, the ending u-s of the name “Jesus” was setup to denote this in the transliteration into Greek (“ous”) and Latin (“us”). Greek has no “sh” sound, as in the Hebrew name “Yahshua”. To denote this “sh” Hebrew sound in the Greek, the letter “s” is used. This can also be said of Saul. Are There Pagan Connections? Playing into these deficiencies in language transliteration is also a human weakness to try to make the Eternal’s true religion conform to their imaginations, rather than men adjusting to our God’s true religion. What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 4 of 15)
Some say that “Jesus” is a close facsimile of the pagan god Zeus. Not exactly. The names of 2 sons of Zeus, however, bear a close resemblance; one was Iasus, and the other was Iasius. A more interesting connection is that of “Ieso”, the name of a Greek goddess of healing, and “Iesous”, the Greek name for Jesus. It sounded close, and therefore acceptable, to Greek converts from Hellenized religious practices. According to ancient Greek religion, Apollo, their great sun-deity, had a son by the name of Asclepius, the deity of healing, but also identified with the sun. One of his daughters was Ieso, the Greek goddess of healing. Because of her father’s and grandfather’s identities as sun-deities, she too is in the same family of sun-deities. Therefore, the name Iesous, which is similar in pronunciation to Ieso, can be traced back to sun-worship. The “Jesus” and “Joshua” Connection When you look at the word in the Aramaic used where “Jesus” is used in the English, you see that it appears to be the same as the word used for “Joshua”. In the KJV, there was even some confusion as to who, Joshua the Son of Nun or the One called “Jesus” in the NT, was being referenced: Acts 7:45: which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua
The Hebrew name “Yahshua” sounds very close to the English name “Joshua”; however, the meanings are not the same. Again, when you look at Strong’s translated word for “Jesus” in the English NT, it’s the Greek word #2424, Iesous, pronounced “ee-ay-sooce”, of Hebrew origin (#3091, Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (or three) other Israelites. When you look at Strong’s Hebrew #3091, we see “yeh-ho- shoo-ah”, spelled “Y@howshuwa”; from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua). Compare 1954, 3442. More accurately, it means “Yah’s Salvation”. Strong’s Hebrew #3068 is the YHVH. Strong’s Hebrew #3467 is yasha, pronounced “yaw-shah”, a primitive root, meaning among other things deliverer, or to bring salvation, as in a saviour. Strong’s Hebrew #1954 is Howshea, from 3467, meaning “deliverer”. Strong’s Hebrew #3442 is Yeshuwa (“yay-shoo-ah”), meaning “he will save”. It is also identified as the name of 10 different people in your Bible. How are all of these related to the actual name of our Saviour? When you look at where #3091 “yeh-ho-shoo-ah” (Y@howshuwa) is used in the OT, you see it’s used for Joshua (the son of Nun) in the OT books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and, of course, Joshua. The Joshua is also called “Hoshea” in Numbers 13:16 and Deuteronomy 32:44; meaning “deliverer”. What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 6 of 15)
He is also referenced as Y@howshuwa in I Kings, but in Nehemiah by a different name. Nehemiah 8:17: So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. Here the Hebrew word is “Jeshua”
His name is… and must be… unique and holy, above all others. Philippians 2:9: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. Why? It is the only name by which men can be saved. Acts 4:12: Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Can our Saviour share a name with one or more others if His is a “the name which is above every name” and is the only name “under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”? “Yehu” Versus “Yah” Still leaves the question of the “Yeho” beginning in names. Remember that the Jews in Babylonia captivity sought to hide the name for the Supreme Deity. Remember those human names using “Yeho”? People today readily acknowledge the association to Yah in the names I mentioned previously, even though it’s spelled with Yeho. Did they do that same thing with the same of our Saviour? Just like Yahweh’s name was changed to start with the “Yeho” vowel points, the practice was extended to do the same for “Yehoiachin”, “Yehosheba”, “Yehoshaphat” and numerous others which actually contain the first part of Yahweh’s name. Consistently, the scribes did not want anyone to accidentally pronounce the Heavenly Father’s name when saying these other names. What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 8 of 15)
Interestingly, they did not change the pronunciation of these same 3 (maybe 4) letters when it was at the end of a person's name. However, extra-biblical evidence gives a different story. Cuneiform tablets, also containing vowels, were discovered near the Ishtar gate in Babylon which gives a list of workers and captives to who rations were given. These validate the biblical account of II Kings 25:27-29, where it mentions that Jehoiachin, listed as “Yahuiachin”, who ate at the king’s table. They also help to establish the way these names were actually to be pronounced before the Jewish authorities modified the actual text based on their traditions. A family of Jewish businessmen living in the Mesopotamian city of Kippur in the 5th century BC left behind a collection of clay tablets recording their commercial transactions, known as the Murashu documents. These contain vowels and list the names of about 70 Jewish Yod) יהו settlers in Persia; Hebrew names which begin with Heh Vav) are all written “Yahu” and never “Yeho”. Notice that not only were names beginning with “Yeho” actually written as “Yahu”, but also names beginning with “Yo” such as “Yochanan” (John) and “Yoel” (Joel) were written as “Yahu”. Discrediting the Son Besides trying to hide the name of the Father, the Jews attempted to do something else; discredit the Son. The original name for those who we call “Joshua” were actually “Jeshua”, not “Y@howshuwa”; What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 9 of 15)
Changing their names to “Y@howshuwa” to mimic the actual Yahshua in their presence meant they can claim that He was “just another human”, so people couldn’t claim His name was superior to all others. But what does scripture tell us in this matter? Think of the One who led Israel in the wilderness. Exodus 23:20-21: 20 Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. According to the Jewish New Testament Commentary, the name Yeshu is, “…a kind of coded incantation against Christian evangelism. Moreover, since Yeshua came to be regarded in non-Messianic Judaism as a false prophet, blasphemer and idolater wrongly being worshiped as God, and since the Torah says, ‘You shall not even pronounce the names of their gods’, the Messiah’s name was purposely mispronounced.” Is Use of a Personal Name Important? In the model prayer, The One called the Word (Logos) in John 1 indicated that the name of the Father was holy. Matthew 6:9: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Just what does “hallowed” mean? To make holy; set aside for a specific purpose. In the OT, the question was asked about a personal identifier for both the Supreme God of Israel and His Son. Proverbs 30:4: Who has ascended into heaven, or What’s in a Name? (Part 3) (Page 10 of 15) descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know? This does not sound as if it is referring to a title, but a personal identifier. The scripture indicates that there is a personal identifier; a personal name. Proverbs 30:4 indicates that both the Father and the Son have personal names. Matthew 6:9 indicates that the name of the Father is holy; i.e. – unique, and highly exalted. Can the same be said for the Son? Our Savior knew the holy name of the Father and revealed it to His Apostles. John 17:6, 11-12: 6 I have manifested
Elijah offers a choice. I Kings 18:21: And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name
The word “God” could be understood as an equivalent to the Hebrew El, Eloah or Elohim. However, the actual names for both the Father and the Son are personal and unique. It’s not a matter of speaking in ancient Hebrew. Zephaniah 3:9: For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD
In the NT, you will see that, in most cases, “God” (Greek: “Theos”) and “the Lord” (Greek: Kurios) refer directly back to Elohim and YHWH, respectively. Use this information to help you make up your own mind. There’s much more on this subject. My studies on the subject are not finished. I’m looking into how to properly use El, Eloah and Elohim. One thing I can definitely see from my studies; “G-o- d” and “J-e-s-u-s” are definitely not their true names! Summing it up, when our Make conquers all who oppose Him in the end times. Psalms 83:18: That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD