- JESHURUN a poetical name for the people of Israel, used in token of
affection, meaning, “the dear upright people” (Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5,
26; Isaiah 44:2). - JESSE firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth
4:17, 22; Matthew 1:5, 6; Luke 3:32). He was the father of eight sons, the
youngest of whom was David (1 Samuel 17:12). The phrase “stem of
Jesse” is used for the family of David (Isaiah 11:1), and “root of Jesse” for
the Messiah (Isaiah 11:10; Revelation 5:5). Jesse was a man apparently of
wealth and position at Bethlehem (1 Samuel 17:17, 18, 20; Psalm 78:71).
The last reference to him is of David’s procuring for him an asylum with
the king of Moab (1 Samuel 22:3). - JESUS (1.) Joshua, the son of Nun (Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:8; R.V.,
“Joshua”).
(2.) A Jewish Christian surnamed Justus (Colossians 4:11).
Je’sus, the proper, as Christ is the official, name of our Lord. To
distinguish him from others so called, he is spoken of as “Jesus of
Nazareth” (John 18:7), and “Jesus the son of Joseph” (John 6:42).
This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which was originally
Hoshea (Numbers 13:8, 16), but changed by Moses into Jehoshua
(Numbers 13:16; 1 Chronicles 7:27), or Joshua. After the Exile it assumed
the form Jeshua, whence the Greek form Jesus. It was given to our Lord to
denote the object of his mission, to save (Matthew 1:21).
The life of Jesus on earth may be divided into two great periods, (1) that
of his private life, till he was about thirty years of age; and (2) that of his
public life, which lasted about three years.
In the “fulness of time” he was born at Bethlehem, in the reign of the
emperor Augustus, of Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter
(Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:23; comp. John 7:42). His birth was announced to
the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Wise men from the east came to Bethlehem
to see him who was born “King of the Jews,” bringing gifts with them
(Matthew 2:1-12). Herod’s cruel jealousy led to Joseph’s flight into Egypt
with Mary and the infant Jesus, where they tarried till the death of this
king (Matthew 2:13-23), when they returned and settled in Nazareth, in
Lower Galilee (2:23; comp. Luke 4:16; John 1:46, etc.). At the age of
twelve years he went up to Jerusalem to the Passover with his parents.