The name "Jesus" in the context of the New Testament is often understood to mean "Yahweh saves" [5] or "Yahweh is salvation" [6]. In the context of history, Jesus belonged to the Jewish faith and communicated in Aramaic. In the Eastern Aramaic dialect, his name is Isho, a traditional designation prevalent in Eastern Christian traditions, particularly in the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church.
It is essential to clarify that this name is also used to represent the name of Joshua, the son of Nun, as indicated in Acts 7:45. Joshua, also known as Joshua son of Nun, is a prominent figure in the Torah, specifically in Numbers 13-14. He served as Moses' assistant and was one of the twelve spies sent to scout the land of Canaan for the Israelites. After Moses's passing, Joshua assumed leadership over the Israelite tribes. While his birth name was Hoshe'a, of the tribe of Ephraim, Moses bestowed upon him the name Yĕhôshúa‘, meaning "a Great Savior of God's elect," as mentioned in Sirach 46:1.
The first occurrence of the name Jesus can be traced back to the Greek translation of the Old Testament in Alexandria during the 3rd century BC. At that time, 'Jesus' referred to the son of Nun, who followed Moses as the leader of the Israelites. Philo of Alexandria and Flavius Josephus, both Jewish authors from the 1st century AD, also identified Joshua, the son of Nun, as Jesus in their works. When the Christian Gospels, composed in Greek, mentioned Jesus, readers readily recognized him as the same figure who succeeded Moses among the Israelites.
The confusion arose much later, in the 16th century, with the English translation of the Bible. It was during this period that the name 'Joshua' was assigned to the Old Testament character, while 'Jesus' came to be associated with his appearance in the New Testament.
Over time, Yēšūă‘ emerged as a common alternative form of the name Yĕhôshúa‘ or Joshua, particularly in later books of the Hebrew Bible and among Jews during the Second Temple period. In Hebrew, Yēšūă‘ is derived from the verb "to rescue" or "to deliver." It is used in historical Hebrew texts to refer to various individuals named Joshua, including those recorded in Greek texts as Jesus ben Ananias and Jesus ben Sira [7].
The name Yĕhôshúa‘ corresponds to the Greek spelling Iesous, from which the English name Jesus originates [8]. However, it's essential to note that the name Jesus is not a direct translation of Yĕhôshúa‘ into Hebrew. Instead, the Hebrew form of the name Jesus is Yēšhū [9], which has been interpreted as an acronym conveying a curse: "may his name and memory be wiped out." The Jesus figures mentioned in the Talmud were all associated with specific crimes or sins and faced execution. For example, Jesus Ben Stada was believed to have brought witchcraft from Egypt, as noted in Talmud Shabbat 104b. He was hung on the eve of Passover (Talmud Sanhedrin 67a).
Another figure mentioned in the Talmud is Jesus ben Pandira, who, according to the Talmud Sanhedrin 107b, was associated with practicing magic, deceiving the people of Israel, and leading them astray. He met a grim fate, being hung on the eve of Passover, as described in the Talmud Sanhedrin 43a. Intriguingly, the Talmud sometimes draws parallels between the names Jesus and Balaam, as seen in Sanhedrin 106. In Hebrew, the name Balaam carries the meaning of "Destroyer of People" or "Confuser of the People."
It is evident that many of the individuals referred to as Jesuses in the Talmud and by Josephus met tragic ends, often involving torture, execution, or crucifixion. These figures were regarded by many Jewish people as failed messiah figures who did not succeed in liberating them from Roman rule. Consequently, the name "Jesus" became associated with their actions and their unfortunate outcomes, with the appended phrase "may his name and memory be wiped out" symbolizing their perceived failures.
It is worth considering that had these individuals achieved their mission of freeing the Jewish people from Roman oppression, they might have been remembered and celebrated under names like Joshua, signifying their role as "Great Saviors of God's elect." However, their historical legacies are marked by controversy and the consequences of their actions.
In conclusion, the name "Jesus" holds complex historical and linguistic roots, intertwining biblical interpretations and cultural perceptions. Originally signifying "Yahweh saves" and linked to the revered biblical figure Joshua, the name took different forms and meanings over time, including "Yēšūă‘" in Hebrew and "Iesous" in Greek. In Jewish texts like the Talmud, various figures referred to as Jesuses faced tragic fates and were seen as failed messiah figures. The name became associated with their perceived failures and often carried a curse in historical Jewish contexts. This intricate history highlights the multifaceted nature of religious and cultural interpretations, shaping the legacy of the name "Jesus" and its significance in different contexts.
5. Green (1997)
6. France (2007)
7. Robert (2000)
8. Stern (1992)
9. Shahak (2002)
