By far the most common name of the Messiah is Jesus. This name originates from the Greek word Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), which in turn, comes from the Hebrew Yeshua,(יֵשׁוּעַ) meaning salvation (yĕshuw`ah {יְשׁוּעָה}).
This is the point of Matthew 1:21 when the angel told Joseph to call His name Jesus for it is He that will save His people from their sins.
The root of this name is Yashah (יָשַׁע), which is the same root of some other biblical names such as Joshua (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ), Isaiah (יְשַׁעְיָה) and Hosea (הוֹשֵׁעַ). These are all closely related names, coming from the same Hebrew root, meaning to save1.
The Hebrew Names and Titles for God the Son, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach, as found in the B'rit Chadashah2 (Hebrew בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה) which is first mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31, describe Yeshua and reveal aspects of His character, nature and purpose, and are a powerful tool in discovering more and getting to know Him.
Messiah (Mashiach) comes from the verb Mashach, which means to smear or anoint with oil, usually for the purpose of dedicating or consecrating something (such as a temple vessel) or someone (such as a prophet, priest or king) for the service of Adonai, thus Yeshua Ha Mashiach — Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.
The titles used in the New Covenant to describe Jesus reveal aspects of His character, nature and purpose, and are a powerful tool in discovering more and getting to know Him. The following are how most Christians in the West relate to Jesus Christ, given the influence of Hellenism3 in the way we have received and therefore read Scripture.
All of the Brit Chadashah was either written by the apostles (Shlichim) or their disciples (talmidim) who were Jewish who mostly wrote in their native language. Many theologians in the West believe Greek to have been the primary language of Israel during the Roman occupation, whereas Greek was simply the vehicular rather than the vernacular language of Israel which would have been Aramaic. In addition, the West has put a lot of emphasis on the teachings of the Greek based "post-Apostolic" founders of the Church. So was the New Testament originally written in Greek and then translated into Aramaic or was it originally written in Aramaic and then translated into Greek? The debate for a Greek primacy to the New Testament vs. an Aramaic primacy of the New Testament has been the subject of debate for a very long time. While the majority of Western Christian churches hold to a Greek primacy for the New Testament, the majority of Eastern Christian churches hold to an Aramaic primacy for the New Testament.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus makes 7 declarations with an emphatic I Am which seems to refer to the name of God in Exodus 3:14 (ehyeh-asher-ehey) which is translated as I AM THAT I AM which clearly relates to Jesus’ claim in John John 8:58 - before Abraham was born, I am.
- John 6:35; John 6:48 - I am the bread (לחם - Lechem) of life (הַחַיִּים ) Lechem ha'Chayim;
- John 8:12; John 9:5 - I am the light (אוֹר - Or) of the world (העולם - ha'Olam) — Or ha’Olam (ohr ha-oh-LAHM);
- John 10:7; John 10:9 - I am the gate/door (השער - ha'Sha’ar) for the sheep — ha'Sha’ar (hash-sh-AR);
- John 10:11; John 10:14 - I am the good (הטוב) shepherd (הרועה) — ha'Ro'eh HaTov (ha-roh-EH hat-TOHV);
- John 11:25 - I am the resurrection (תְקוּמָה) and the life (החיים) — ha'tekumah v’ha'Chayim (ha-te-koo-mah ve-ha-KHAI-yeem);
- John 14:6 - I am the way (הדרך) and the truth (האמת) and the life (החיים) — ha'Derech ha'Emet ha'Chayim (had-DE-rekh ha-E-met ha-KHAI-yeem);
- John 15:1 (NKJV); - I am the (true) vine (גֶפֶן נָכוֹן)— HaGefen Emet (hag-GE-fen E-met).
