Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
What is the origin of Jesus' Name? Is it derived from the Greek god, "Zeus"?
Here's some context for my question. At my church this Sunday a woman told me that the name "Jesus " was derived from the Greek god "Zeus" when it was translated over time by Greek scholars.
Is there any truth in this? Please feel free to give me the name his disciples would call him, and other names he has been called in the scriptures too.
Is there textual / literary evidence that "Jesus" is a name derived from "Zeus"?
What is the Etymology of the Name, "Jesus"?
The Greek Septuagint Translation of the Hebrew Old Testament is the clearest evidence that the name "Jesus" is absolutely a transliteration of the Hebrew name: "Joshua", from Hebrew Scripture.
Ζεύς | Zeus, Logeion Lexicon - is represented in Greek in many ways, but: "Ζεύς" is the most recognized, (but also written as "Διός | Dios"; and also as "θεός | Theos". "Theos" is the same word used for "God", (the Father), in Scripture.
The spelling and morphology of the name: "Zeus" - is very different than: "Jesus".
Autenrieth-Homer, Morphology of Zeus, (From Logeion) - Ζεύς (Διεύς, root διϝ), gen. Διός, dat. Διί, acc. Δία, voc. Ζεῦ, also gen. Ζηνός, dat. Ζηνί, acc. Ζῆν(α): Zeus (Diespiter, Juppiter; cf. Ζεῦ πάτερ, ... etc.
Aeschin. 1:28 - Such a man, then, he forbids to speak. And right he is, by Zeus, say I!
τοῦτον οὐκ ἐᾷ λέγειν. νὴ Δία καλῶς γε, ὡς ἔγωγέ φημι. διὰ τί; ὅτι εἴ τις, οὓς ἐξ ἴσου δεῖ τιμᾶν τοῖς θεοῖς
In Greek, Jesus / Ἰησοῦς is actually a transliteration of one name - that has two forms :
The Hebrew name "יְהוֹשׁ֫וּעַ | Yehoshua" is considered to mean : "God Saves", (Strong's Concordance).
In Greek texts, Both יְהוֹשׁ֫וּעַ | Yehoshua and Joshua | Yeshua | יֵשׁ֨וּעַ are transliterated into Greek into the same exact way : Ἰησοῦς .
"Jesus" In Greek:
NASB, Matthew 1:1 - The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Byz, Matthew 1:1 - βιβλος γενεσεως ιησου χριστου υιου δαυιδ υιου αβρααμ
Joshua | Jehoshua, the Son of Nun - Transliterated as Jesus:
NASB, Numbers 13:12 - but Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun, Joshua.
Septuagint, Numbers 13:16 - καὶ ἐπωνόμασεν Μωυσῆς τὸν Αυση υἱὸν Ναυη Ἰησοῦν
Hebrew, Numbers 13:12 - וַיִּקְרָ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה לְהֹושֵׁ֥עַ בִּן־ נ֖וּן יְהֹושֻֽׁעַ׃
And:
NASB, Deuteronomy 3:21 - I commanded Joshua at that time, saying,
Septuagint, Deuteronomy 3:21 - καὶ τῷ Ἰησοῖ ἐνετειλάμην
Hebrew, Deuteronomy 3:21 - וְאֶת־ יְהֹושׁ֣וּעַ צִוֵּ֔יתִי בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר
Yeshua Also Transliterated as Jesus - During and After the Babylonian Exile and Aramaic Influence :
Chronicles was "probably composed between 400–250 BC, with the period 350–300 BC the most likely", (Wikipedia, Books of Chronicles).
WEB, 2 Chronicles 31:15 - Under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua
Septuagint, 2 Chronicles 31:15 - διὰ χειρὸς Οδομ καὶ Βενιαμιν καὶ Ἰησοῦς
Hebrew, 2 Chronicles 31:15 - וְעַל־ יָדֹ֡ו עֵ֣דֶן וּ֠מִנְיָמִן וְיֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּֽשְׁמַֽעְיָ֜הוּ
The name : ܝܫܘܥ / "Ishu'", (Matthew 1:18, Peshitta) - is the Syriac/Aramaic transliteration. The Syriac is very close to the later "Yeshua" Aramaicism - and certainly not the older Hebrew : "Joshua | Yehoshua".
The New Testament implies that Jesus perhaps had two names : a Hebrew name, "Immanuel", (Matthew 1:23); and the Greek/Aramaic name : "Iesos" and "Yeshua".
