The Name of the LORD: Why do Some Christians Have a Problem with the Name Jesus?

 “The Name of the LORD”

Key Texts: Exodus 3:14; Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9–11

What’s in a Name?

Names have great significance in Scripture. They carry identity, character, purpose, and often a divine revelation. When we speak of the name of the LORD, we are not just talking about pronunciation or syllables—we’re talking about the nature of God Himself.

Today, we’ll look at:

1. The history of God’s names in the Bible.

2. The debate over using the name “Jesus” vs. “Yeshua.”

3. Why what we mean matters more than the precise sound we say.

God’s Names in the Old Testament

The first time God reveals a personal name to Moses is in Exodus 3:14, when He says:

“I AM WHO I AM… Tell them, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The Hebrew here is Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, and it reflects the eternal, self-existent nature of God. He simply is.

Soon after, in Exodus 6:3, God adds:

“I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name YHWH I did not make myself fully known to them.”

This sacred name—YHWH, often rendered Yahweh—was considered so holy by the Jews that they would not speak it aloud. Instead, they substituted “Adonai” (Lord) when reading the Scriptures. That tradition carried over into Greek translations like the Septuagint, which used Kyrios (Lord) instead.

Other names and titles of God in the Old Testament include:

• Elohim – God, mighty creator (Genesis 1:1)

• El Shaddai – God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)

• Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14)

• Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26)

These names point not just to what God is called, but who He is.

Jesus, Yeshua, and the Greek New Testament

Some Christians today argue that we should only use the name Yeshua, the Hebrew name for Jesus. It’s true that when Jesus walked the earth, His Hebrew name would have sounded like Yeshua, a shortened form of Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning "The LORD saves."

But here's the critical point:
The New Testament was written in Greek, and the inspired authors called Him Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς)—the Greek equivalent of Yeshua.

• In Matthew 1:21, the angel says, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

• In Acts 4:12, Peter boldly declares:

  “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

That name was written in Greek. If it were wrong to call Him anything but Yeshua, then the apostles themselves were wrong—and the Holy Spirit, who inspired Scripture, would have corrected them.

Furthermore, the title Christ (Greek: Christos) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah). Again, the apostles had no problem using a Greek title to proclaim a Hebrew truth.

Did Jesus Object to Being Called by Other Names?

There is no biblical evidence that Jesus ever objected to someone calling Him by the translated or contextual version of His name.

In fact:

• He interacted with Greek-speaking Gentiles (John 12:20–21).

• His followers would go on to proclaim His name across cultures and languages—never insisting on a single linguistic form.

The focus was never how to say the name, but who the name refers to, and whether one believes in who He is.

Jesus Himself said in John 17:6:

“I have revealed Your name to those whom You gave Me out of the world.”

That doesn’t mean He merely spoke God’s name aloud. It means He revealed God’s character, His heart, and His will.

The Heart Behind the Name

God is not confined to language. He is not honored by syllables but by faith and obedience.

As Paul says in Philippians 2:9–11:

“God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

Whether you say Yeshua, Jesus, Iēsous, or Isa (as in Arabic), what matters most is:

• Are you calling upon the true Savior?

• Are you trusting in His finished work?

• Do you bow your heart before the One who is Lord of all?

Conclusion: Calling on the Name That Saves

Let us never become more concerned with pronunciation than with praise.

Let us remember that “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

And let us proclaim boldly—whether in English, Hebrew, Spanish, or Swahili—that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your names—Elohim, Yahweh, I AM—and ultimately through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us not to get caught up in debates about language, but to worship You in spirit and truth. May we call upon Your name with reverence, faith, and love, knowing that You hear us, no matter the tongue.
In Jesus’ name we pray—Amen.