Scientists have made an intriguing revelation: the name ‘Jesus,’ as known worldwide, was never his actual name. This individual, central to Christianity, might have been called something quite different in his native Aramaic tongue.

Interestingly, the name ‘Jesus’ contains letters that were not part of texts until roughly 1,500 years following his death. History has seen his name altered significantly through numerous translations and misprints over two millennia.

This name journeyed through several languages, starting in Aramaic, moving to Hebrew, then to Greek, followed by Latin, before finally appearing in English by the 16th century.

Additionally, experts suggest that his last name wasn’t ‘Christ.’ Instead, it would have been indicative of his origin or family.

According to Dr. Marko Marina, a historian from the University of Zagreb, the ancient world seldom used last names as we do today. People were often identified by their lineage or hometown. Think of names like ‘John, the son of Zebedee’ or ‘Mary Magdalene’ – the latter suggesting a connection to a place named Magdala.

Thus, his actual name was likely closer to Yeshu Nazareen rather than ‘Jesus Christ.’ As for pronunciation, Dr. Marko believes we can closely estimate it by relying on linguistic and cultural understandings, suggesting ‘Yeh-shu-ah’ in modern Hebrew.

It’s also believed that he primarily spoke Aramaic, not English. Professor Dineke Houtman, a scholar in the interrelations of Judaism and Christianity from the Protestant Theological University in the Netherlands, notes that while we can’t be certain of the languages Jesus spoke, Aramaic is a strong assumption given his upbringing in Nazareth.

Another intriguing aspect is Jesus’ appearance. Scholars propose he likely had short, curly hair, brown skin, and eyes, complemented by a neatly trimmed beard, providing a contrast to the popular images we often see today.

This fresh perspective on a figure many thought they knew is indeed fascinating!