Matthew 1:21 (18-25)
“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
— Matthew 1:21 NKJV
The name Yeshua (Jesus) means “Yahweh saves.” From the very announcement of His birth, His name declares His mission — to save His people from their sins.
Never Read a Bible Verse
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
(Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV)
Short Explanation
The angel’s announcement to Joseph reveals both the virgin birth and the saving purpose of Yeshua’s name. This is the beginning of the gospel story — God with us, come to save His people from their sins.
What “Immanuel” Means
Immanuel (עִמָּנוּ אֵל) literally means “God with us.”
It is not just a nice title — it is a profound theological statement: the eternal God has come to dwell with His people in the person of Yeshua.
The Connection in Matthew 1
In the passage we just did (Matthew 1:18-25), the angel tells Joseph two things that go together:
- “You shall call His name Jesus [Yeshua], for He will save His people from their sins.” (v. 21)
- “They shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (v. 23, quoting Isaiah 7:14)
Why This Matters (The Bulls-Eye)
- Yeshua = “Yahweh saves” → The mission
- Immanuel = “God with us” → The Person who accomplishes the mission
Together they show that salvation comes because God Himself has come to us. It is not a distant God sending a representative. It is God in the flesh coming to save us from our sins.
This is why Matthew presents Yeshua as the fulfillment of the Old Testament promise. The virgin birth + the name Immanuel = God tabernacling among us (see also John 1:14).
Simple Way to Say It
“He will save His people from their sins” — because He is “God with us.”
This is one of the strongest verses showing the deity of Yeshua right at the beginning of the New Testament.
Cross-References - Yeshua Ha-Mashiach - The Wicket Gate - Never Read a Bible Verse