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Why Was Jesus Called Immanuel?

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In Matthew’s gospel Jesus is called Immanuel.

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us”(Matthew 1:23).

This is not a personal name. In Isaiah 7:14 it is seen as fulfilled, not in the naming of Jesus, but in the whole account of His origin and naming. It is not that Jesus ever bore the name Immanuel but that it indicates His role, bringing God’s presence to man.

Matthew now explains to his readers what this phrase means. It is actually a transliteration of the Hebrew into Greek—making a new Greek word from the sound of the Hebrew phrase “God is with us.”

God Is With Us Because Of Jesus

This is a statement, not a prayer. The meaning is explained to Matthew’s readers. Matthew’s use of this term may be understood in one of two ways.

  1. The phrase “God is with us” describes the nature of Jesus. He is God who has become a human.
  2. Matthew wanted to show that the virgin conception was not something new, but that it had been predicted by the prophet Isaiah. God is now with the people to save them as the prophets have predicted.

Therefore “God is with us” would not so much describe the exact nature of Jesus, but rather that God has been gracious to His people by sending His Messiah.

Summary

When the conception of Jesus was announced to Joseph the angel told him that a son would be born who would be called Immanuel – God with us. The phrase may be emphasizing the truth of the gospel that God became a human being in Jesus Christ. It is also possible that Matthew is emphasizing that God was faithful to His promises in sending the Messiah to His people the Jews.

Comments

  1. Writer, both “possibilities” are certainly true and consistent with the Scriptures. As well as Immanuel being a name by which Jesus would be called (Matt.1:23). Why not just state as much? As is you don’t concretely answer your own question, and kind of bleed the Scriptures of their power. Uniting all Scripture (prophesy and fulfillment) by its ultimate author would also help. God Bless.

  2. Just asked that question at Christmas dinner with my family – why was He named Jesus and Emmanual. So its more like Jesus the Emmanual – Jesus His name – Emmanual his title!

  3. Praise Him for His faithfulness! Also, I would highly recommend the words “faithful” and “faithfulness” as rewarding subjects for a word study.

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  4. What about the millions of lives playing out at this moment. Historically the accumulation of millions occurred in linear increments through time. Merely a sterile consideration of these current numbers will expect consequences. The Old Testament witnesses how this appears to our God.

    Hab 2:1-14, Eze 6:3-14

    Why did God come to us?

    Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

    Now Christian, what will you do? 2Ti 4:1-6, 2Pe 3:1-18, Hbr 10:36-39, Jhn 21:22-23, Luk 21:28-38

  5. Hello Chris,

    I would have to take the ” God was Faithful to His Word and of course to His promise”,

    Remember the vary first idea and time or sign he’s coming is Gen.3:15. recorded you see

    Not talking about God’s foreknowledge,

    You remember what constellation this verse is talking about?

    To fulfill this prophecy, God made preparation before the foundation of the world to have a Son. The record of the conception and birth of Jesus Christ is clearly set forth in Matthew.

    there is no question that the Bible teaches divine conception. The question pertains only to the integrity of the Bible. The Bible also teaches that all men since Adam are born “dead in trespasses and sin,” while at the same time claiming that Jesus was a sinless man. Jesus was born sinless, but he also maintained himself sinless as he grew older. How can we account for the original sinlessness of Jesus–that he was born sinless? Hebrews gives part of the answer.

    Hebrews 2:14
    All children are of Adam, and all partake of Adam’s flesh and blood. (flesh when used as a figure of speech stands for physical body, while blood represents life), The word “partake” is the greek word koinoneo and means “to share fully”.

    So all of Adam’s descendants share fully in his flesh and blood, thereby transmitting sinfulness to ALL Adam’s children.

    But Jesus just “took part” of the same; the greek word is metecho which means “to take only a part, not all.” Jesus took same part, nut not all; he did not share fully, koinoneo. According to he flesh, he as of Mary; but the life of the flesh in the blood of Jesus came by way of supernatural conception by the Holy Spirit, God.

    Now isn’t that cool to know, studying the Word and getting down to the greek and breaking it down like this is rightly-dividing the Word. All we have to do is understand what God is telling us with His Word, instead of us trying to fit it with our own ideas. And you know the the Word says about having our “OWN” ideas? Study “own” sometime and word idiot comes up.

    Anyway, God Bless

  6. Judgment is severe. Since there is no definition of blood as “representing life” depicted in the flesh and blood assertion, it must be inferred. Mingling precise wording with inference is at least an uncomfortable entanglement. There is ample proof of integrity in meanings attributed to words. The bible is also rife with inference. Mat 7:1, Luk 6:37, Rom 3:4

  7. Jhn 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with [their] eyes, nor understand with [their] heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

    Jesus is the glory of creation. This world was made by Him. No sooner is He lifted up unto our attention then contentions; distractions steal and lie to diminish His glory.
    The temptation of Adams continues.

    Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
    Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
    Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
    Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
    Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

    Deut 32, Jos 24:15, Dan 9,

    Rom 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

    2Cr 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)

    Where are we at this day when the entire world can know and see an event anywhere throughout the earth? Consider the potential inherent in such multitudes of people. We are at the moment of decision.

    Jhn 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
    Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call.
    Jhn 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
    Jhn 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

    Phl 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

    Mar 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
    Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

    Jesus is Immanuel. 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.