יְשׁוּעָה
Yeshuah
Salvation, deliverance, rescue
Yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה) is a Hebrew word meaning “salvation, deliverance, rescue,” pronounced “ye-shu-AH.” Derived from the root י-שׁ-ע, yeshuah appears 354 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H3444).
| Hebrew | יְשׁוּעָה |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Yeshuah |
| Pronunciation | ye-shu-AH |
| Meaning | Salvation, deliverance, rescue |
| Root Letters | י-שׁ-ע |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 354× |
| Key Verse | Exodus 14:13 |
| Strong's Number | H3444 |
| Category | Covenant & Theology |
Here is a fact that changes everything: the Hebrew word for salvation is yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה) — and it is the very same word from which the name Yeshua (Jesus) comes. When the angel told Joseph, 'You shall call His name Yeshua, for He will save His people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21), the wordplay was unmistakable to any Hebrew speaker: His name IS salvation. This is not a coincidence; it is the culmination of a thread that runs through the entire Hebrew Bible. When Moses stood at the Red Sea and told Israel, 'Stand firm and see the yeshuah of the LORD' (Exodus 14:13), he was prophetically speaking of the God who would one day come in person to deliver His people. David sang, 'The LORD is my light and my yeshuah' (Psalm 27:1). Isaiah prophesied, 'God is my yeshuah; I will trust and not be afraid' (Isaiah 12:2). Every Old Testament cry for salvation was a cry for a Person who had not yet arrived. When Mary held her newborn and called Him Yeshua, she was declaring that the salvation Israel had waited for was finally here — not as a military victory or political liberation, but as a baby in a manger. Understanding yeshuah reveals that salvation in the Bible is always God's personal intervention — He does not send deliverance; He comes Himself.
Key Bible Verse: Exodus 14:13
“And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation (yeshuat) of the LORD, which he will work for you today.'”
What Is the Root of Yeshuah in Hebrew?
Yeshuah comes from the root י-שׁ-ע (yod-shin-ayin), meaning 'to save, deliver, rescue.' The name Yeshua (Jesus) derives directly from this root — His very name means 'salvation' or 'He saves.' Related words include 'yoshia' (savior) and 'teshuah' (deliverance/victory).
What Does Yeshuah Mean in the Bible?
Yeshuah and its root appear over 350 times in the Hebrew Bible. It describes military deliverance (Exodus 14:13), personal rescue (Psalm 27:1), and the messianic hope (Isaiah 12:2; 49:6). The name Joshua (Yehoshua) and Jesus (Yeshua) both come from this root.
How Is Yeshuah Used in Modern Hebrew?
In modern Hebrew, yeshuah is not commonly used in everyday speech (the secular word for rescue is 'hatzalah'). However, among Messianic Jews and Hebrew-speaking Christians, 'Yeshua' for Jesus is standard. The name appears on ancient ossuaries and manuscripts, confirming it was a common Jewish name in the Second Temple period.
How to Use Yeshuah in Prayer & Worship
Call on Yeshua — Salvation itself — by name. When you pray 'in Jesus' name,' you are literally praying 'in the name of Salvation.' Ask God to reveal new dimensions of His yeshuah in your life: not just forgiveness, but deliverance, rescue, victory, and wholeness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yeshuah
How do you say “Salvation” in Hebrew?
“Salvation” in Hebrew is Yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה), pronounced “ye-shu-AH.” Yeshuah comes from the root י-שׁ-ע (yod-shin-ayin), meaning 'to save, deliver, rescue.' The name Yeshua (Jesus) derives directly from this root — His very name means 'salvation' or 'He saves.' Related words include 'yoshia' (savior) and 'teshuah' (deliverance/victory).
What does Yeshuah mean in the Bible?
Yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה) means “Salvation, deliverance, rescue” in Biblical Hebrew. Yeshuah and its root appear over 350 times in the Hebrew Bible. It describes military deliverance (Exodus 14:13), personal rescue (Psalm 27:1), and the messianic hope (Isaiah 12:2; 49:6). The name Joshua (Yehoshua) and Jesus (Yeshua) both come from this root.
How do you pronounce Yeshuah?
Yeshuah is pronounced “ye-shu-AH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root י-שׁ-ע.
Is Jesus' name really Yeshua in Hebrew?
Yes. The name 'Jesus' comes from the Greek Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς), which transliterates the Hebrew/Aramaic name Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ), a shortened form of Yehoshua (Joshua). Yeshua literally means 'He saves' or 'salvation.' Every time someone called Jesus by name in first-century Israel, they were saying 'Salvation.' Matthew 1:21 makes the wordplay explicit: 'Call His name Yeshua, for He will yoshia (save) His people.'
What is the difference between yeshuah and teshuah?
Yeshuah (יְשׁוּעָה) emphasizes salvation as divine rescue — God stepping in to deliver. Teshuah (תְּשׁוּעָה) carries a nuance of victory or triumph, often in military contexts (1 Samuel 19:5). Both come from the same root (y-sh-a). In practice they overlap significantly, but yeshuah is more commonly connected to God's personal saving acts, while teshuah may emphasize the triumphant outcome.
How does Psalm 118:14 connect to Jesus?
Psalm 118:14 declares: 'The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my yeshuah (salvation).' This psalm was sung at Passover — including the Last Supper. When Jesus and His disciples sang this after the meal (Matthew 26:30), they sang that God had 'become' their yeshuah. Jesus was literally embodying the psalm as He walked toward the cross.
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H3444: Yeshuah
- Bible Gateway — Exodus 14:13 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for י-שׁ-ע
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