יֵשׁוּעַ (ye.shu.a)
ye.shu.a
Jeshua
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yeshuʿa appears only in the book of Ezra, where it identifies a high priest and son of Jehozadak. This individual played a central role in the post-exilic community, leading the rebuilding of the altar and the temple alongside Zerubbabel. The text records his leadership in organizing the Levites and overseeing the spiritual restoration of Jerusalem during this critical period.
Yeshuʿa is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew name Yehoshua, commonly known as Joshua. While the original name means "Yahweh is salvation," the shortened Aramaic version retains the core meaning "he is saved." This linguistic shift reflects the changing cultural and political landscape of the Persian period, where Aramaic served as the administrative language of the empire.
The occurrence of this specific form in Ezra highlights the transition from Hebrew to Aramaic in Jewish religious life. The name connects the post-exilic priesthood back to the legacy of Joshua, the successor of Moses, suggesting a continuity of divine guidance and deliverance for the returned exiles.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Yeshuʿa carries a quiet but powerful promise: "He is saved." In Ezra 5:2, we meet Jeshua, son of Jozadak, standing alongside Zerubbabel to rebuild the altar and temple in Jerusalem. This was not a time of imperial glory or military strength, but a season of humble reconstruction after exile. The name itself reminds us that salvation is not always a dramatic rescue from danger, but often a steady restoration of what was broken.
For your faith, this connection between the name and the work offers comfort. Just as Jeshua helped restore the place where God’s people worshipped, you can trust that God is at work restoring your own life, even in small, daily steps. The continuity from Joshua the leader to Jeshua the priest shows that God’s plan for deliverance remains consistent across generations. You are part of that same story of restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Jeshua1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/יֵשׁ֣וּעַ1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 5:2
Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
This verse establishes Jeshua's active leadership role in the physical and spiritual rebuilding of Jerusalem, linking his name's meaning of salvation to the concrete act of restoring worship.