What does this really mean: Yeshua HaMashiach

The Yeshua Pictographs
Today's Hebrew study will focus on the name of  our Messiah in Hebrew  which is 'Yeshua'. Once again, the pictographs will be quite revealing, providing information in a nutshell that is revealed throughout the course of the entire New Testament.

[Yeshua] The name of Yeshua is composed of four Hebrew letters, which reading right-to-left are the 'Yud', the 'Shin', the 'Vav', and the 'Ayin'. We're all familiar with the common translation of "He Saves" that is associated with this name, and certainly that corresponds to scriptures such as Matthew 1:21, which states "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” But there is a little more to the story. Hidden within His name are a few other attributes in addition to the fact that he saves.

THE PICTOGRAPHS

 As with each of our other studies, we'll now substitute the ancient Hebrew pictographic letters for the modern Aramaic Square Script letters, and see what kind of mnemonic meanings emerge.

[Yud] The first letter is the 'Yud', which has a 'Y' sound and is represented by the arm and hand of a man. This letter carries the implied meanings of 'work' or 'throw' or 'worship', along with a few other similar connotations that are all related to working or doing something. It can also mean simply 'arm' or 'hand'.
 

[Shin] The second letter is the 'Shin', which has a 'Sh' sound or an 'S' sound, and is represented by two front teeth. This letter has the potential meanings of 'two' or 'sharp' or 'press' or 'eat', but it can also mean 'consume' or 'destroy' or anything that relates to the function of teeth or eating.


[Vav] The third letter is the 'Vav', which today has a 'V' sound, an 'O' sound, or a 'U' sound depending on how it is used, but in ancient times it was called a 'Waw', and carried a 'W' sound. It is represented by a tent peg, and has the potential meanings of 'add' or 'secure' or 'hook', but it can also mean simply 'peg' or 'nail'. 


[Ayin] The last letter is the 'Ayin', which has a short 'A' sound, and is represented by a human eye. Potential meanings include 'watch' or 'know' or 'shade', or anything that relates to the functions of the eyes such as to 'see', 'understand', or 'reveal'. And as with the other pictographic letters, it can simply mean 'eye'. 

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THE MESSAGE

When we combine the various meanings that are available for each letter, and consider the context provided by the person they are describing, I think the message that they convey becomes clear;

"He who creates, destroys, saves, and reveals"

Yeshua was our Creator (John 1:1-3), and it is He who will destroy those who destroy the earth (Revelation 11:18). He is also the only name by which we are saved (Act 4:10-12), and He is also the revealer of mysteries (Daniel 2:28). The fact that all of these qualities are wrapped up in his name is certainly no coincidence.



Yeshua 'haMashiach'
There is also a Hebrew lesson in the revealed and in the mnemonic meaning behind the word Messiah. The second half of His title, 'haMashiach', or Messiah, and see what else may be revealed about the ministry of Yeshua and the role that he will play in the last days.

'haMashiach'

[HaMashiach]



The Hebrew letters above show the proper Hebrew spelling of the name 'haMashiach', which consist of the letters 'Hey' (the 'H' sound), then 'Mem' (the 'M' sound), then 'Shin' (the 'Sh' sound), then 'Yud' (the 'Y' sound), and finally the 'Chet' (the hard 'H'). And in addition to these, several vowel points are inferred between letters where necessary. As you read these letters, always remember that the Hebrew shown above reads from right to left. So let's jump right in and see what additional information the ancient pictographic letters may tell us about our Messiah.

[Hey]
The first letter is the 'Hey', which is a picture of a man trying to get our attention. As we discovered in prior studies, this letter serves as the word 'the' in modern hebrew. In the pictographs however, it carried the meaning 'look' or 'reveal' or 'breathe', and could alternately mean 'behold'. 


[Mem]
The second letter is the 'Mem', which depicts waves of water, and specifically, water in a state of chaos. This letter can represent 'chaos' or 'mighty' or 'blood', or it can simply suggest 'waves', 'sea', or 'water'.


[Shin]
The third letter is the 'Shin', which is symbolized by two front teeth. This letter carries with it the various meanings of 'sharp' or 'press', or 'eat', or 'two', or by extension even 'consume' or 'destroy'. These are all things that are done with the two front teeth, or are related to the two front teeth.


[Yud]
The fourth letter is the 'Yud', which is a picture of the arm and hand of a man. This letter has the potential meanings of 'work' or 'throw' or 'worship', because that is what we do with our arms and hands, but it can mean 'create' or simply mean 'arm' or 'hand' as the picture suggests.


[Chet]
The last letter is the 'Chet', which is a picture of the walls within a tent or house. It has the potential meanings of 'outside', 'divide', or 'half', and carries with it the idea of 'separation', because that's what walls do.


THE MEANING

As always, the context of the subject at hand often determines the context of the interpretation. So in this instance we should be looking for the meaning that would be appropriate to the Messiah. Fortunately, that context is extremely clear, and when we combine these meanings the following sentence emerges;

"Behold, His blood destroys, saves, and divides"

Over the last two millennia, nothing has been as divisive in this world as the blood of Yeshua Messiah. Those that believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Yeshua Messiah are saved by His blood and will have eternal life, but those who deny the blood of Messiah will ultimately be destroyed. And in the end, it is the word of God that will divide them for an eternity.