So as it would happen, during a time before my conversion, I was begining to embark on my journey to learn Hebrew. One of the first things I had noticed was the differences in names that the Hebrew Bible had, compared to what was in my English Bible. The names, in some cases were totally switched up. This really piqued my interest. What purpose could it serve to transliterate a name? Why would you even want to? The best aswer I could find was that in some cultures, certain letters or pronounciations weren’t used, so the need to make it culturally friendly became necessary. I guess this could be possible. But as I looked a little deeper, I began to realize something quite unique about Hebrew names. Hebrew names are usually short sentences that connect both identity and purpose.
I can recall early on as a Christian, reading various passages in the Bible where it would say that a certain person was given a certain name because of something that had happened. One good example would be Sarah and Abraham. Sarah was in her early 90’s when she finally had her son Isaac. Indeed he was a miracle baby, but not just that, but a child of promise. Sarah felt that she was a reproach because she was unable to bear Abraham a child. having kids was a big them to people. In fact, they wanted to have a big family. Since she couldn't have any, but saw so many other of their friends having kids, you know it had to trouble her. For this reason, when YHVH made the promise to Abraham, she laughed because it was insane to think a couple so old could bear a child. She reasoned within herself that maybe YHVH would do it through Abraham and another. This is why he married Hagar and had a child with her. After this, YHVH checked Abraham and said the promise is between you and your wife, not another woman. After Sarah gave birth, she was so overjoyed that not only did she bare a child, but she carried it full term and delivered it. Indeed, this was a joyous time for them both, as well as a notable miracle. She finally had a reason to have joyous laughter. Sarah remarked that YHVH had brought her laughter, therefore, she named the child Isaac. Here is where it gets interesting. The English Bible tells us that Isaac means laughter, but just how does that work? Not to mention this is an English name. How do they explain this?
This can’t be explained in the English, but it makes perfect sense in the Hebrew. Isaac in Hebrew is Yits’chak. It pronounced like Yeetz-chak (the ch is a gutteral sound, like the German sound for the name of the classical composer, Bach). In Hebrew, Yitschak means “laughter”. The English transliteration Isaac, technically has no meaning because it is not a real word, but rather an alternate version of the Hebrew name. There are many more examples of this that I found as I searched on. One of my favorites would have to be Adam and Eve. Adam is close to its Hebrew counterpart, but it’s technically what would be called a “Hebraic word pun”. Nehemia Gordan, a Karaite Jew, Scholar, and author of several books, as well as translator of the Dead Sea Scrolls describes a “Hebrew word pun” as being the bringing together of two words with similar meaning, and linking them together. An example would be this: God created Adam from the earth, or from the land, or ground. In Hebrew the word for land or ground would be pronounced Adamah. This is why he was named Adam, because he came from Adamah (the dirt or land). Do you see the connection between the two? Adam learned this concept from YHVH and later named his wife Eve, and said he named her so because she was the mother of all living. But again, how do you equate “Eve” with “Mother of all living”? In the English for you can’t, but in Hebrew, once again it makes perfect sense. In Hebrew, her name is Chavvah (sounds like Havah). The word for life in Hebrew is Chai (sounds like the English greeting “Hi”). Because it is being used for a woman, you know have to break it down to it’s feminine form, ending the word in either “OT” or “AH”.. The feminine form of Chai is Chavvah, therefore, Adam named her Chavvah becase she was the mother of all Chai. Pretty awesome, right? Hebrew is quite an amazing language!
The English transliteration Isaac, technically has no meaning because it is not a real word, but rather an alternate version of the Hebrew name.
I remember as a child going to a Baptist Church, and the word “Bethel” was in the name. The name really seemed to stand out to me for some reason. Years later, I’m hearing it more and more. Well, after learning Hebrew, I recall reading in the Tanakh (The Old Testament) about Bethel again. I was reading about when Jacob had the dream about the ladder with angels going up and down it. It goes on to say that Jacob awoke from the dream and called the place Bethel, as it is written in the English Bible. But in my Messianic Bible, it sort of separated the two words like Beyt El. I looked at in the Hebrew Bible to see how it was pronounced and something wild happened. First of all, you need to know that Hebrew was originally a “pictographic” language. Each letter is a symbol of something of a physical nature. All Hebrew words are comprised off of a basic root word. If you know the root word, then you can piece together any word with additional letters added on to it. In the case of Beyt El (Bethel), it is comprised of two words Beyt which is the name of the second letter of the alphabet, making the “B” sound, and the word “El”. Now the letter Beyt (B), in Paleo Hebrew is a picture of a house. It’s actually the picture of the layout of a basic Hebrew tent, but for them, the tent was their house. So we have the image of a “house”, but what about the “El”? The word El is a singular form of Elohim, which means “God”. We now have two words, “house” and “God”, and when you put them together “house God” basically becomes “House of God”. After wondering for years how House of God comes out of the word Bethel, I now know. I could go on forever talking about the names of the patriarchs of the Bible or different places in the Bible, but I will leave it here for now as I dig into one of the most important names of the Bible.
First of all, you need to know that Hebrew was originally a “pictographic” language
What is the name of our Savior? Many call Him Jesus, based off of horrible transliterations. First off, I’ve spoken about the transliterational errors in other blogs, and even pointed out that the letter “J” is NOT a Hebrew letter, nor Greek for that matter. According to Wikipedia, the letter “J” was created about 1500 in Europe. That being said, His name definitely couldn’t be Jesus with a letter being used that was created a thousand years after His time. Lets talk about transliterations. First off, lets look at Joshua’s name in Hebrew. Joshua in Hebrew is Yehoshua. I can work with that even though I still don’t understand why they needed to rename the Hebrew names to European names. Well, what if I were to tell you that our Lord’s name, Yeshua, is a shortened form of Yehoshua? It’s true. So, if both names are interconnected, then that means they should both be transliterated to the same name. There is no way that you can get Jesus from Yeshua but get Joshua from Yehoshua. That’s like taking the name Michael and Mikey and coming up with two totally different names for them in a different language. In any case, how can this be verified? Well for starters, they both have the same meaning in Hebrew. The name Jesus is a “made up” name. It has absolutely NO meaning, other than what we make up, sort of like a slang word. Looking at His name in Hebrew paints a masterpiece for us. Matthew 1:21, the angel Gabriel is speaking to Joseph about the baby inside of Mary. He further instructs him to name the baby Yehsua, saying this in the English, “and you shall name Him Jesus, for he shall save His people from their sins”. Again I ask, how in the world does the name Jesus connect to saving His people from their sins? It doesn’t! As I said, it’s like a slang word. However, in Hebrew, we find another “Hebrew word pun”. In the Hebrew Bible, Matthew 1:21 says this, “You shall name him Yeshua, for He shall Yoshia His people from their sins”. In Hebrew, the word Yoshia means “to save”. Both Yeshua and Yoshia are comprised of the same root word, Yod Shin Ayin (Y, Sh A). Being a part of the same root word connects them, causing them to relate one to another. It now becomes clear why He was names Yeshua, because He would save His people from their sins. His name connects Him to His identity as a man, and His purpose as Savior. I won’t even get into the fact that Gabriel, the messenger of YHVH personally instructed Joseph to name Him Yeshua.
There is no way that you can get Jesus from Yeshua but get Joshua from Yehoshua.
Some may still argue that names don’t matter, but clearly they do because YHVH used this concept when changing names like that of Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. Needless to say, it was a part of the Hebrew culture to do this. I just find it interesting that YHVH wanted to make sure that when The Messiah came, that his name fully reflected not just His identity, but His purpose. Obviously names do matter. Personally, I believe that there is something about His name being called in it’s proper context. When He changed the names of Abraham and Jacob, in both cases he said they will no longer be called by the former name. It definitely matters. I think because we have been mis taught a few things, the mercy of YHVH is shed on us because many of us have no idea we have it wrong. But because we do it in ignorance, and still have a heart for Him, he accepts it for the time being. I also believe that once we learn the truth, we are bound to correct the error, as opposed to keeping it going. I’m sure many reading this now will have all kinds of reasons why they refuse to address Him by His correct name. Some will even claim it doesn’t matter, again as a justification for keeping things the same, yet this opinion is like a defense mechanism triggered by feelings, not facts. I also find it quite interesting that the name Satan, is actually spoken correctly in it’s Hebrew context. Well, technically, it would be HaSatan, which literally means “The Adversary” in Hebrew, we just drop the “Ha” sound, which means “The”, making it just “Adversary”, as opposed to being “The Adversary”. This is a textbook example of a name identifying both identity and purpose. Nonetheless, we have been taught to use the devil’s Hebrew name, and are fine with it, but when it comes to the Messiah’s Hebrew name, we really can’t accept that. I know when I learned these truths, it wasn’t until I could put what I thought I knew aside that I could move any further. After this, I purposed in my heart to follow the evidence, and wherever it led me, I would make all decisions based on concrete facts, not feelings, and that is what got me here today. Don’t take my word because you know me, or trust me, but fact check me, follow the evidence and decide for yourself. Look at the URL’s I posted. See the same things I am seeing and go from there. My hearts desire is that any and everyone who reads my blogs will be blessed, find revelation, and after diligent study, make whatever changes deemed necessary. I would admonish all of you, learn Hebrew and study the Bible in its original text, but don’t stop there, study the culture, the time and the audience and I can promise you one thing, your life will never be the same. Blessings!
I also find it quite interesting that the name Satan, is actually spoken correctly in it’s Hebrew context.
יוֹשׁיע = this is “Yoshia” in Hebrew, and basically means “to save” or “He will save.
ישׁוּע = this is “Yeshua” in Hebrew, the name of our Lord. It means “YHVH is Salvation…
