Have you ever wondered how Yeshua (Jesus) would have written His Name? The Hebrew of the Dead Sea Scrolls is written in the form of Hebrew used in the Second Temple era. This would have been the familiar Hebrew to Yeshua and His Talmidim (Disciples).
Recently, an ossuary box was found in Israel that some believed to be the burial container for James, the brother of Yeshua. Although the authenticity was questioned, it was identified as from the 2nd Temple period by the form of Hebrew that was used.
Below, we have written some familiar words for you in this ancient form of Hebrew.
On the left is the modern form of Hebrew and on the right is the 2nd Temple form. Our first word is “Yeshua.” Yeshua would not have written His Name as it is seen in the left column. He would have written it as you see it on the right.
Our second word is “Salvation.” Note how similar it is to “Yeshua.” In fact, it is pronounced “Yeshu-ah!” Matthew 1:21 says: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him YESHUA, [which means ‘ADONAI saves’] because he will save his people from their sins.” God would not have spoken to His People in Greek but rather in Hebrew, which reveals the nature and purpose to which Yeshua was born!
Our third word is “Yehu-dah,” from which we get “Judah” [Israelite tribe] or “Judea” [the region in Israel].
Notice that our fourth word, “Yehu-dee” has been translated in modern day as “Jew or Jewish.” Note how it is derived from the word above, “Yehu-dah” or “Judah.”
We have added “Jewish Voice” for fun—actually pronounced “Ha-kol” [voice] “Ha’Yehu-dee” [the Jewish].
“Yisra-el,” or Israel, hasn’t changed much at all.
— Adapted from Living Word Pictures by Dr. Frank Seekins.
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