And
Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross and the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS This
title then read many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was
nigh to the city and it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin --John 19:19
Comments: Some claim that Hebrew was a completely dead language by the time Jesus
was born. Some say the name Yeshua was invented by the Hebrew Roots and Sacred Name groups. But the Bible says differently. The superscription above Jesus' cross was written in Hebrew, as well as the other two common languages spoken in Jerusalem.
If Hebrew was a dead language in the First Century, then why was it referred to as a living language in the New Testament? The superscription placed above Jesus on the cross, was written in three languages. The languages were Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
Latin is a dead spoken language today, but it was not a dead language in Jesus' day. Latin, the old Italia, was the spoken language of the Romans, who had earlier become Grecianized when they were conquered by the Greeks. Though Greek became their primary spoken language, it took much longer for their mother tongue of Latin to die. Latin was still very much a living language in the first centuries, as was Hebrew.
When Jesus walked the earth, all three languages that were placed on the sign above his head while he hung on the cross, were spoken languages. Greek may have been the everyday language. Every Jew may not have spoken or read Hebrew, just as many Romans no longer read or spoke Latin, but many still did. Enough so that Pilate commanded that the superscription, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS, was written in Hebrew as well as in Greek and Latin.
The superscription above Jesus' cross: (John 19:19) Greek: iEsous of Nazareth the King of the Jews ... Latin: Iesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews ... Hebrew: יﬣושע (Yeshua) of Nazareth, the King of the Jews
We know the Hebrew spelling because the names Joshua (יﬣושע) and Jesus are the same name in Hebrew and Greek.
Hebrew was a language the people of Jesus' day understood, both written and spoken, and Pilate wanted to make sure all the people understood, hence the three most commonly spoken and written languages of the day (in Jerusalem).
Yes, Jesus quoted from the LXX, which was a Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. But he had access to the Hebrew scriptures as well. We still have the Hebrew Scriptures today, because God promised that HIS WORD would be preserved to every generation. that includes Jesus' generation and our generation. Hebrew was not a dead language in the first Century. If it had been, the superscription above Jesus' cross would never have been written in Hebrew.
Jesus and Joshua share the same name. We see this in both the Old Testament and the New.
Greek speaking early Christians also called Joshua, iEsou, (ihsou), Hsous/iEsous (Greek variations of the name Jesus). Joshua is called Jesus in Acts 45 & Hebrews 4:8.
Greeks called Joshua, Jesus, but that did not mean his name was not Joshua. In his lifetime, all Hebrews called Joshua, יﬣושע, Yhoshua, or Yeshua. Same name.
In the name Joshua (meaning YHWH [ יﬣוﬣ] is salvation), we see the first three letters of the Tetragrammaton YHWH, יﬣוﬣ. (Yahweh or Yehovah). Transliteration or not, the name Joshua in Hebrew is the same name as Jesus in Greek.
There should be no debate about whether it is incorrect to call Jesus Yeshua or visa-versa. This is not an either-or question.
Joshua Jesus Yeshua Joshua iEsou, (ihsou), Hsous/iEsous ...all the same. All are Ok. *All are HIS name, just in different languages.
*If only the Greek Translation (LXX) of the Old Covenant is relevant today, then the Septuagint is the only version of the Old Testament all Christians should possess and read. But it is doubtful any Believer takes that position. The LXX is simply a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures but should not be elevated above them.
In Jesus’ day, the
people of the Roman Empire spoke many languages. In Jerusalem, three were primary,
Greek, Latin...and Hebrew.
