What Does the Bible Say About Jesus Name and Titles?

In biblical times, a person’s name was more than just a name of address; it represented the person’s purpose, character, and life. All of Jesus’ names and titles teach us something about who he is. For example, Jesus’ name, Joshua, Yeshua or Yehoshuah, is a contraction of the two Hebrew words “yeho”, which is a word that comes from “YHWH” / “Yahweh”, and “shua” which means “salvation” or “save us!”. So all in all, Jesus’ name becomes “God saves us” or “God the savior”, which is very consistent with Jesus being God who became man to save us. Jesus’ most common title, “Messiah/Christ”, means “the anointed one” and means, in short, that he is “crowned”. Another common title is “the Lord”, a title that not only means he is the “boss”, but also has a direct connection to God’s name “YHWH”.

Other common titles for Jesus are Savior, Alpha and Omega, Son of Man, Son of God, Son of David, God, the Word of God, I Am, Immanuel, Bridegroom, High Shepherd, Head of the Church, Rabbi, Passover Lamb, Mediator, High Priest, Last Adam, Holy One, Righteous One, Lion of Judah, Bright Morning Star, Sun of Righteousness, Light of the World, Cornerstone, Rock, Firstborn.

Bible Verses

“²¹She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”” (Mt 1:21)

“²⁶And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;” (Ro 11:26)

“¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”” (Re 22:13)

“¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”” (Lk 19:10)

“²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”” (Jn 20:28)

“¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Jn 1:1)

“²³“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (Mt 1:23)

“¹⁴But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,” (Ac 3:14)

Study Questions

1. Why isn’t Jesus called Immanuel?
2. What do all these names and titles say about who Jesus is?
3. Which of Jesus’ titles is most relevant to you?
4. What do Jesus’ most common names and titles mean: “our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the Son of God”?

Additional Bible Verses

Matt 21:9, John 8:58, John 18:4-6, John 3:29, 1 Pet 5:4, Eph 4:15, John 1:38, 1 Cor 5:7, 1 Tim 2:5, Heb 6:20, 1 Cor 15:45, Rev 5:5, Rev 22:16, Mal 4:2, John 8:12, Matt 21:42, 1 Cor 10:4, Rom 8:29