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יְהוֹשׁוּעַ

𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤅𐤏

Yehoshua

H3091 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ישע to save, deliver, rescue

Definition

Personal name meaning 'YHWH is salvation' or 'YHWH saves.' Used chiefly of two individuals in the Hebrew Bible: (1) Joshua son of Nun, the Israelite leader who succeeded Moses and led the people into the land of Canaan, and (2) Joshua son of Jehozadak, a high priest in the post-exilic period. The name is both a theophoric personal name and, by extension, attests to trust in YHWH's saving action. It does not denote a broad range of objects or types, but is used chiefly as a proper name.

Semantic Range

personal name ('YHWH is salvation'), Israelite leader (Joshua son of Nun), high priest of the post-exilic period (Joshua son of Jehozadak), rarely as theophoric name for other individuals

Root / Etymology

Compound name from the theophoric element יְהוֹ (Yeho-), a form of YHWH (the divine name), and the verbal element שׁוּעַ, from the root יָשַׁע (to save, deliver). Thus, "YHWH is salvation" or "YHWH saves." The longer form יְהוֹשׁוּעַ reflects elaboration of names using the divine element Yeho- plus a verbal clause.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historically, יְהוֹשׁוּעַ replaces the earlier form הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshea) in the narrative, as noted in Numbers 13:16, which records Moses assigning the longer theophoric form to Joshua son of Nun. The transition marks a significant cultural-linguistic moment in the preservation of Israelite personal names with clearer reference to YHWH. In post-exilic texts, יְהוֹשׁוּעַ is borne by the high priest who returns from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Haggai, Zechariah). Later biblical and Second Temple texts sometimes show contraction to יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua) — a form found in Aramaic-influenced post-exilic books like Ezra and Nehemiah, and eventually rendered Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) in Greek. The English form 'Joshua' became standard for the leader son of Nun in historical contexts; however, in post-biblical and New Testament usage, the same Hebrew/Aramaic name is more commonly rendered 'Jesus,' reflecting translation differences, but in ancient contexts the referent remains the same. The term 'Jewish leader' is anachronistic for Joshua son of Nun; 'Israelite leader' is historically accurate. The theophoric element was a common feature in Israelite names, distinguishing them from neighboring traditions. The form and spelling יְהוֹשֻׁעַ is a variant found occasionally in manuscripts. Etymology is closely connected to similar names like הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hoshea) and יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua), each with nuances of salvation or deliverance but differing in formality, archaicness, and period usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ; from יְהֹוָה and יָשַׁע; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader; Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare הוֹשֵׁעַ, יֵשׁוּעַ.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ישע (y-š-ʿ) — save, deliver, rescue

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1954 הוֹשֵׁעַ in Deliverance
H1955 הוֹשַׁעְיָה Yahweh has saved
H3442 יֵשׁוּעַ to Yeshua
H3443 יֵשׁוּעַ and Yeshua
H3444 יְשׁוּעָה my deliverance

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3091-04 יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves 196
H3091-03 וִ/יהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ vihoshua HC/Np and Joshua and YHWH-saves 17
H3091-02 לִֽ/יהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ lihoshua HR/Np to Joshua to YHWH‑is‑salvation 4
H3091-01 בִּ/יהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ bihoshua HR/Np to Joshua in YHWH-saves 1

Occurrences in Scripture

218 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3091-04 Exodus 17:9 יְהוֹשֻׁ֨עַ֙ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-04 Exodus 17:10 יְהוֹשֻׁ֗עַ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-04 Exodus 17:13 יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-04 Exodus 17:14 יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-03 Exodus 24:13 וִ/יהוֹשֻׁ֖עַ vihoshua HC/Np and Joshua and YHWH-saves
H3091-04 Exodus 32:17 יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-04 Exodus 33:11 יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-04 Numbers 11:28 יְהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-04 Numbers 13:16 יְהוֹשֻֽׁעַ yehoshua HNp Joshua YHWH saves
H3091-03 Numbers 14:6 וִ/יהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ vihoshua HC/Np and Joshua and YHWH-saves
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