Why Yahoshua’s Name Matters: A Cultural Perspective

“Now, Adonai, according to Your word, Your servant is at peace as You let him go; for I have seen with my own eyes Your Yahoshua, which you prepared in the presence of all peoples – a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

Open up another common translation. In verse 30, it will read, “For I have seen with my own eyes Your salvation.” Verse 33 says: “Yahoshua’s father and mother were marveling at the things Simeon was saying about Him.” i know that i am beating a drum here but how sweet a name is Yahoshua? The name means salvation which is why most translations render it so. Yet I can’t help but wonder. What have we lost by rendering such a name outside of its proper culture and context?

This double meaning is fitting for there is Salvation in no one else but Yahoshua. The very meaning of His name. Imagine, you meet a man and someone tells you his name is John. He happens to be Hispanic. You go days calling him John. No one corrects you. Therefore, there is no reason to think you are wrong. Time goes by and you have a chance to meet him in person. He reaches out his hand and introduces himself. “Hi my name is Juan and I am from Guadalajara Mexico.” You respond cordially, “Hello John, it’s nice to meet you. I am Ignoramus from America.

Later in your room someone tells you that the man you met is named Juan. You being inquisitive, although daft, say, “I thought his name was John?” “Oh surely it is John in English but his given name is Juan. He is after all Hispanic and from Mexico.” The person responds. You shrug your shoulders. “Oh well, John is easier to say and I have been calling him John so. Not to mention everyone I know also calls him John so it can’t be wrong. He’s in America now. I am sure he understands”

Why, should be the question asked, has history tried so hard to scrub the Jewishness of Yahoshua? The ‘Church’ is as guilty as all historians. The fact that we don’t want to know or even explore our Messiah’s Hebraic upbringing is puzzling. The church is content to understand Israel’s Promised Messiah from a westernized cultural perspective. It limits us and it allows for misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and heresies.

I understand that this can be said for all Biblical names and it’s true. Why not harp on that? In some cases I have. However, the reason I feel more and more conviction about the name of our Messiah is He is our Messiah! Isaiah writes, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty El, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In light of what Isaiah (Yesha’yahu) writes one must wonder if Exodus 20 means anything? “You shall not take the name of Adonai your Elohim in vain, for Adonai will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Yahoshua, quoting Isaiah in Matthew says, “‘These people honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far away from Me. Their worship of Me is useless, because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.’” How can we say we know someone while using a name that has been poorly transliterated. Poorly, I say, because it is through the Greek and has been altered with the introduction of the letter ‘J’. Just say the name Jesus and then say the name Yahoshua. Do they even sound the same? We’re not talking about the name William and Bill, we are talking about Yah’s Salvation. The Fathers name within the Son’s name proclaiming Salvation to all who call on Him!

So what’s in a name? A lot!

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj