Among Torah-minded believers, the name of our Savior often becomes a point of concern. Many ask: If His Hebrew name was Yeshua, where did “Jesus” come from? Others go further, claiming the name Jesus is pagan, corrupted, or even blasphemous.
These claims usually arise from a sincere desire to honor Messiah—but they often rely on historical misunderstandings rather than evidence.
As followers of our Messiah, we believe truth matters—especially when it comes to something so important…and contentious.
The short answer is this: “Jesus” is not a pagan invention, and using the English name does not dishonor the Messiah.
The longer answer helps us understand how languages work, how Scripture was transmitted, and how God preserves truth across cultures.
Let’s begin at the beginning.
The name Yeshua (ישוע) is a shortened form of Yehoshua (Joshua in English), meaning “The LORD saves” (Numbers 13:16). This was a common and meaningful Hebrew name in Second Temple–era Judea. Scripture itself connects the name directly to His mission:
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Yeshua, [which means ‘Adonai saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.” —Matthew 1:21
The meaning of the name—not merely its pronunciation—is what the text emphasizes.
When the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek centuries before Yeshua’s birth (in the Septuagint), the name Yehoshua/Yeshua was rendered as Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς).
This was not a theological choice—it was a linguistic necessity. Greek does not contain the “sh” sound, nor does it end masculine names with an “a” sound. Transliteration, not translation, was required.
This matters because the New Testament was written in Greek. (There is information that leads some scholars to believe that Matthew may have originally been written in Hebrew, but that is a different topic.)
Every known Greek manuscript uses Iēsous. The apostles themselves—writing under the inspiration of the Spirit—used this form of the name (Acts 2:38; Philippians 2:9–11). There is no evidence that the early Greek-speaking believers viewed this as corruption or compromise.
From Greek, the name moved into Latin as Iesus, retaining the same pronunciation. Centuries later, as English developed, the letter J emerged as a distinct consonant form of I. Thus Iesus gradually became Jesus in English. This change occurred long after the Bible had already been translated faithfully into multiple languages.
At no point was the name replaced with a pagan deity.
One of the most common myths claims that Jesus comes from Zeus or Jupiter. Historically and linguistically, this claim does not hold up. The sounds, spellings, and linguistic roots are unrelated. Greek names for Zeus do not resemble Iēsous, and there is no manuscript evidence linking the two. This idea is modern, not ancient, and would have been utterly foreign to both Jewish and early Christian audiences.
Another myth claims the name Jesus is invalid because the letter J did not exist in Hebrew or Greek. While that is true, it misunderstands how language works. No English Bible word existed in Hebrew or Greek—including God, Lord, or Messiah. Translation always involves adapting sounds and letters so meaning can be understood. Scripture itself affirms this multilingual reality at Pentecost, when the gospel was proclaimed in many tongues without losing its power (Acts 2:5–11).
What Scripture consistently emphasizes is the authority of the name, not the language used to pronounce it. Salvation is found in the name because of who He is and what He has done—not because of a particular syllable sequence (Acts 4:12). Paul teaches that every knee will bow at the name given above every name—the name recognized and confessed across nations and languages (Philippians 2:9–11).
That said, using the name Yeshua is not wrong. For many believers, it is meaningful and helps reconnect the Messiah to His Hebraic context. Scripture itself acknowledges Hebrew names and meanings (John 19:13, 17). The issue arises only when one name is elevated as spiritually superior and others are treated as corrupt or invalid—a standard Scripture never sets.
The early church did not fracture over pronunciation. Jewish believers called Him Yeshua. Greek believers called Him Iēsous. Latin believers said Iesus. English believers say Jesus. In every case, they were calling upon the same Messiah, trusting the same sacrifice, and worshiping the same Lord (Romans 10:12–13).
What about “Yahusha”?
This form appears in some modern Hebrew Roots or “Sacred Name” movements, even in a couple modern bible versions. But this version of the name is not supported by historical or linguistic evidence.
It does not appear in any ancient manuscripts. It appears to be a constructed name, attempting to insert “Yah” (God’s name) more explicitly. Ancient Jews did not alter names this way. There is no textual proof that Messiah was ever called “Yahusha.” And finally, native Hebrew-speakers do not say “ישוע” in this manner.
As far as pronunciation goes, it is most commonly pronounced one of three ways, but all are Yeshua.
“YEH-shue-uh”
“yeh-SHUE-uh” or
“YEHSH-wuh“
We encourage believers to understand the Hebrew roots of their faith without falling into fear-based myths or twisting (even unknowingly) a language they likely do not speak. Honoring Messiah includes honoring truth, history, and the way God has faithfully carried His Word through time.
Prayerful Reflections
You may call Him Yeshua.
You may call Him Jesus.
What matters is that you trust Him, follow Him, and walk as He walked (1 John 2:3–6).
Walking in Torah means walking in clarity—loving the God who saves, proclaiming the Messiah He sent, and resting in the confidence that His name has never been lost.
God is not limited by phonetics. Neither is He limited by languages. He created them all!
