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Is it Emmanuel or Immanuel?
1. Is it Emmanuel or Immanuel?
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. [kjv]
ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσουσιν το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον μεθ ημων ο θεος [gnt]
Every year at Christmas, one often hears verses read from Matthew or Isaiah that use the name "
Emmanuel" or "
Immanuel". Which is correct? What is the difference?
The Hebrew is transliterated into English as "Immanuel".
The Greek is transliterated into English as "Emmanuel".
Thus, the word "
Emmanuel" is the result of transliterating Hebrew into Greek and then Greek into English. This is an example of the "
whisper game" where minor changes to words add up over time to major changes.
2. Matthew 1:23
KJV: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Greek: ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσουσιν το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον μεθ ημων ο θεος
Latin: ecce virgo in utero habebit et pariet filium et vocabunt nomen eius Emmanuhel quod est interpretatum Nobiscum Deus
Wessex: Soðlice. syo femne haefð on innoþe. & hyo kend (sic) suna. & hyo nemneð hys name emmanuel. þaet ys gereht on ure þeode god mid üs.
Luther: Siehe, eine Jungfrau wird schwanger sein und einen Sohn gebären, und sie werden seinen Namen Emanuel heißen, das ist verdolmetschet, Gott mit uns.
Russian: се, Дева во чреве приимет и родит Сына, и нарекут имя Ему Еммануил, что значит: с нами Бог.
3. Aspects
Here we look at two aspects of this verse.
Is it Emmanuel or Immanuel?
God with us (the translation)
We will defer the discussion of "
virgin" for another time.
The word "
Immanuel" appears only in Isaiah 7:14, 8:8 and 8:10, as a sign that God will protect the House of David.
4. Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. [kjv]
δια τουτο δωσει κυριος αυτος υμιν σημειον ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσεις το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ [lxx]
… Emmanuhel [v]
5. Isaiah 7:14
KJV: Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Hebrew: לכן יתן אדני הוא לכם אות הנה העלמה הרה וילדת בן וקראת שמו עמנו אל׃
Greek: δια τουτο δωσει κυριος αυτος υμιν σημειον ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσεις το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ
Latin: propter hoc dabit Dominus ipse vobis signum ecce virgo concipiet et pariet filium et vocabitis nomen eius Emmanuhel
Luther: Darum so wird euch der Herr selbst ein Zeichen geben: Siehe, eine Jungfrau ist schwanger und wird einen Sohn gebären, den wird sie heißen Immanuel.
Russian: Итак Сам Господь даст вам знамение: се, Дева во чреве приимет и родит Сына, и нарекут имя Ему: Еммануил.
6. Emmanuel or Immanuel
Note that Isaiah does not have the words "God with us" which is provided by Matthew as a translation of "Immanuel".
Who is "Emmanuel"? Is it "Immanuel"? Which is more correct?
7. Hebrew for God
The Hebrew word
"אל" (el) ≈ "God".
Here are some examples:
Daniel is "God is my judge".
Bethel is "House of God".
8. Hebrew
Let us look at the Hebrew. The Hebrew word
"עמנו" (i-man-u) ≈ "with us".
Most Hebrew versions have "
Immanuel" as two separate words, but the Dead Sea Scrolls had it as one word. In the original, of course, there were no spaces or punctuation - which were later inferred.
9. Hebrew for God with us
10. Transliterations
In translation, certain words, such as names, places, etc., have no direct translation. In such cases, the word or words are transliterated in a way that the sounds in the target language mimic the sounds in the source language.
11. Public speaking
I have often been asked how to pronounce Bible words by people who are going to be reading the text aloud. When the words are place names, names of people, etc., that have been transliterated, there is often no single way to pronounce them. Just mouth out all of the letters as best one can, and most people will not notice.
12. Musical analogy
A musical analogy is that when playing music before others, most people will not notice little things like slight imperfections in rhythm, sound levels, even intonation. They will notice if you stop playing. So the general rule is to never stop playing (when the music should continue) and most people will never notice. The same applies to reading transliterated names.
13. Transliteration as a code
It is said that Julius Caesar used a (simple and not that secure) message encryption system (against the Gauls in what is today France) whereby Latin was transliterated into Greek so that someone who could read Greek could read the transliterated Greek which would then be recognized as Latin.
14. Greek
15. Both
The Hebrew is transliterated into English as "Immanuel".
The Greek is transliterated into English as "Emmanuel".
Thus, the word "Emmanuel" is the result of transliterating Hebrew into Greek and then Greek into English. This is an example of the "whisper game" where minor changes to words add up over time to major changes.
16. Whisper game
The "
whisper game" is a way whereby a message is passed from person to person and tends to change with each retelling - especially when whispering where one cannot clearly hear what is being said.
Most cultures have some name for this type of game which is often popular with children - of all ages.
17. Isaiah 8:10
Isaiah 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us. [kjv]
και ην αν βουλευσησθε βουλην διασκεδασει κυριος και λογον ον εαν λαλησητε ου μη εμμεινη υμιν οτι μεθ ημων κυριος ο θεος [lxx]
… Immanuel. [lu]
… с нами Бог! [rus]
18. Isaiah 8:10
KJV: Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Hebrew: עצו עצה ותפר דברו דבר ולא יקום כי עמנו אל׃
Greek: και ην αν βουλευσησθε βουλην διασκεδασει κυριος και λογον ον εαν λαλησητε ου μη εμμεινη υμιν οτι μεθ ημων κυριος ο θεος
Latin: inite consilium et dissipabitur loquimini verbum et non fiet quia nobiscum Deus
Wycliffe: take ye councel, and it schal be destried; speke ye a word, and it schal not be doon, for God is with vs.
Luther: Beschließet einen Rat, und werde nichts draus! Beredet euch, und es bestehe nichts; denn hie ist Immanuel.
Russian: Замышляйте замыслы, но они рушатся; говорите слово, но оно не состоится: ибо с нами Бог!
Spanish: Tomad consejo, y será frustrado; proferid palabra, y no será firme; porque Dios está con nosotros.
19. No transliteration
In Isaiah 8:10 in the LXX, above, the same Hebrew words are not transliterated but are translated as "God with us" or, literally, "with use the Lord God". Same in the Latin.
Thus, the Hebrew was just intended to be a phrase meaning "God with us" but in the transliteration of the LXX and thereafter, has come to be considered a word in itself: "Emmanuel" or "Immanuel".
This happens again in Isaiah 8:8, but not in the LXX, just in the other translations!
20. Isaiah 8:8
Isaiah 8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. [kjv]
και αφελει απο της ιουδαιας ανθρωπον ος δυνησεται κεφαλην αραι η δυνατον συντελεσασθαι τι και εσται η παρεμβολη αυτου ωστε πληρωσαι το πλατος της χωρας σου μεθ ημων ο θεος [lxx]
… Emmanuhel [v]
… Immanuel… [lu]
21. Isaiah 8:8
KJV: And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
Hebrew: וחלף ביהודה שטף ועבר עד צואר יגיע והיה מטות כנפיו מלא רחב ארצך עמנו אל׃
Greek: και αφελει απο της ιουδαιας ανθρωπον ος δυνησεται κεφαλην αραι η δυνατον συντελεσασθαι τι και εσται η παρεμβολη αυτου ωστε πληρωσαι το πλατος της χωρας σου μεθ ημων ο θεος
Latin: et ibit per Iudam inundans et transiens usque ad collum veniet et erit extensio alarum eius implens latitudinem terrae tuae o Emmanuhel
Wycliffe: And he schal go flowynge bi Juda, and he schal passe til to the necke, and schal come; and the spredyng forth of hise wyngis schal be, and schal fille the breede of thi lond, thou Emanuel.
Luther: und werden einreißen in Juda und schwemmen und überher gehen, bis daß sie an den Hals reichen, und werden ihre Flügel ausbreiten, daß sie dein Land, o Immanuel, füllen, soweit es ist.
Russian: и пойдет по Иудее, наводнит ее и высоко поднимется-дойдет до шеи; и распростертие крыльев ее будет во всю широту земли Твоей, Еммануил!
22. Song: O come, o come, Emmanuel
A popular Christmas song based on Matthew 1:23 and Isaiah 7:14 is "
O come, o come, Emmanuel".
The name of the song depends on which name is used, the Hebrew-based "
Immanuel" or the Greek-based "
Emmanuel".
The text originates from the Middle Ages as a Latin call and response (antiphona) chant. It was often used during vesper (evening) service.
23. God with us
Let us return to the phrase "
God with us" to add some historical context to how this phrase was used over time.
24. Gott mit uns
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. [kjv]
ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσουσιν το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον μεθ ημων ο θεος [gnt]
… Emmanuhel … Nobiscum Deus [v]
… Emanuel … Gott mit uns. [lu]
… Еммануил… с нами Бог. [rus]
Martin Luther used the German phrase
"Gott mit uns" ≈ "God with us" in Matthew 1:23 in his famous German Bible,
NT (New Testament) (from Greek) in 1522,
OT (Old Testament) (from Hebrew) in 1534.
The German Army used this phrase for many years. The Third Reich (1933 to 1945) used it before and during World War II.
The Russian Army (and others) used a similar phrase (in their language) at various times.
25. Matthew 1:23
KJV: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Greek: ιδου η παρθενος εν γαστρι εξει και τεξεται υιον και καλεσουσιν το ονομα αυτου εμμανουηλ ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον μεθ ημων ο θεος
Luther: Siehe, eine Jungfrau wird schwanger sein und einen Sohn gebären, und sie werden seinen Namen Emanuel heißen, das ist verdolmetschet, Gott mit uns.
26. In God we Trust
Psalms 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. [kjv]
στηλογραφια τω δαυιδ φυλαξον με κυριε οτι επι σοι ηλπισα [lxx]
The United States motto "
In God we Trust" is related to the phrase "
God with us" and has in interesting history.
The Greek word translated "
trust" in the
LXX in Psalms 16:1 is the ancient Greek word
"ελπίζω" ≈ "expectation, hope" as in a well-founded persuasion, belief or faith.
27. Trust
The concept of "
trust" is interesting.
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Details are left as a future topic.
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28. Before the goodbye
Before the goodbye, we can see how "God with us" is somewhat related to "God be with you".
29. Song: God be with you 'til we meet again
The song "
God be with you 'til we meet again" is based on the meaning of the words "
Good bye".
30. End of page
