Jesus = Joshua

Most English speakers are probably unaware that the Savior's name is the same name as Joshua the son of Nun (Joshua 1:1). Likewise, most Jews in Israel are probably ignorant of this fact as well.

I. English

"Jesus = Joshua" can be seen in the KJV Bible in Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8.

Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David (Acts 7:45 KJV).

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. (Hebrews 4:8 KJV)

In both Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 the KJV translates the Greek name Ἰησοῦς (iesous) as "Jesus," because every where else in the New Testament that is the name for "Jesus" (e.g. Matthew 1:1; etc.). But, in Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 the context dictates it is speaking of "Joshua" the son of Nun (e.g. Joshua 1:1). Thus, most other English translations have "Joshua." As the NKJV illustrates,

which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David (Acts 7:45 NKJV).

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. (Hebrews 4:8 NKJV)

Jesus = Joshua can be further seen when the Hebrew is compared with the Greek.

II. Hebrew

In Israel the name typically used for our Savior in modern Hebrew is "Yeshu" (ישׁוּ). Most Israelis are likely unaware of the definition of this name in the 17 Volume set of A Complete Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Hebrew by Eliezer Ben Yehuda. Below is the entire entry for "Yeshu" from this page. It is found in Volume 4 on page 2180 in the upper right corner below ישׁה .

According to this dictionary, "Yeshu" (ישׁוּ) is an acronym for, "Let his name and remembrance be blotted out."

Typically, in a modern Hebrew New Testament the name for "Jesus" is "Yeshua" יֵשׁוּעַ (yêshu`a). This same exact name in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is used for "Joshua" son of Nun in Nehemiah 8:17. Everywhere else in the Hebrew Old Testament "Joshua" son of Nun (e.g. Joshua 1:1) is "Yehoshua" יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (yehoshu`a).

In the Septuagint (LXX), the ancient Greek Translation of the Hebrew Bible (OT), the name given for "Joshua" son of Nun is Ἰησοῦς (iêsous, both in Nehemiah 8:17 and elsewhere). This is the same exact name for "Jesus" in the Greek New Testament. In the William Tyndale (1490-1536), Geneva Bible (1557-1560), and 1611 KJV New Testaments it is translated (transliterated) as "Iesus."

As can be seen from the above, the Savior's name is the same exact name as the son of Nun, "Joshua."

Endnote

Reading from right to left, the first word is "Yeshu" with gershaiym (") meaning it's an acronym. The next two letters (with ") is an abbreviation (an acronym) for an acronym. Then, after the colon (:) is the meaning given for the acronym.

Reading from right to left after the colon (:), the first word (yimmach) is the same Hebrew word found in Psalm 109:13 for "Let . . . be blotted out." The second word (shemo) is "his name," and the last word (vezikhro) is "and his remembrance." Thus, it reads, "Let his name and remembrance be blotted out."

Below is an image of the page where "Yeshu" (ישׁוּ) is found in A Complete Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Hebrew by Eliezer Ben Yehuda.

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