Over the years I have come across many believers who either prefer using the name “Yeshua” or use it quite often when speaking about Jesus Christ. When I hear it, there is a part of me that has high respect for that name, while another cringe a little inside simply through the experience of meeting some who believe that is what we should be calling our Lord Jesus Christ.

The name “Jesus” was actually a quite common name in the time of Christ, and it still remains very common in our world today. In the Bible, there is at least 3 different people I can think of off the top of my head named “Jesus”. Two in the New Testament and one in the Old Testament.

Jesus (IPA: /ˈdʒiːzəs/) is a masculine given name derived from the name Iēsous (Greek: Ἰησοῦς), the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Hebrew: ישוע‎). As its roots lie in the name Yeshua, it is etymologically related to another biblical name, Joshua.

Does the name name add to our righteousness or honor the name of Christ?

When it’s all boiled down, saying the name Yeshua is simply pronouncing “Jesus” in a different language. Saying the name “Yeshua” doesn’t do much but show that we know a little Hebrew. It does not mean we are more righteous than others who don’t, nor will it add to our righteousness.

Is there anything wrong with using the name Yeshua? Absolutely not, after all it is the name of Jesus Christ. But we should be careful to ask ourselves WHY we speak the Hebrew verse Greek, English or whatever our native tongue is.