What do the names Jesus and Emmanuel mean in Matthew 1?

Question

In Matthew 1, two names appear for the baby - Jesus and Emmanuel. What do these names mean?

AI

The Heart of the Gospel: God Our Savior Is With Us

Matthew chapter 1 introduces two special names given to the baby Jesus. Though these names come from different sources, together they perfectly explain who Jesus is and why He came to earth.

1. Jesus (Yeshua)

In Matthew 1:21, the angel directly commands Joseph to give this name.

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

• Etymology: Comes from the Hebrew "Yeshua (ישוע)," meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves."

• Old Testament Connection: This is the same name as Joshua in the Old Testament. Just as Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, Jesus leads us out of sin and into the Kingdom of God.

• Core Meaning: This name reveals Jesus' mission—what He does. He is the Savior.

2. Emmanuel (Immanuel)

In Matthew 1:23, this name appears through the prophet Isaiah's prophecy.

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')." (Matthew 1:23, quoting Isaiah 7:14)

• Etymology: The Hebrew "Immanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל)" combines "im (עִם, with)" + "nu (נוּ, us)" + "El (אֵל, God)" = "God is with us."

• Prophetic Fulfillment: Isaiah's prophecy from about 700 years earlier was fulfilled in Jesus' birth.

• Core Meaning: This name reveals Jesus' identity—who He is. He is God Himself taking on human form to dwell among us.

3. The Message of Both Names Together

• Jesus: The solution for humanity's need—One who saves us from sin

• Emmanuel: The Savior is God Himself—God has personally come

Together, these two names reveal the core of the Gospel: "God Himself is with us and saves us from our sins."

In Summary

The two names in Matthew 1 do not appear together by coincidence. Jesus is not merely a religious leader or moral teacher. He is God Himself who became human (Emmanuel) and the Savior who liberates us from the power of sin (Jesus). When we meditate on the meaning of these two names today, we come to understand how closely God is with us and how actively He works for our salvation.