What language did Jesus speak and what word did he use when he said God?
Listen: 75 Question 1
In most instances, the Lord Jesus probably used the Aramaic language because that was the prominent language in Israel at that time. There are some that seem to think that the Lord used the Hebrew language, but it is doubtful that He used that language prominently. Hebrew was chiefly used by the scribes and Pharisees, and most of the Israelites were not well versed in the language. The Romans used the Greek language, so it is probable that the Lord also spoke in Greek. It would be like the Lord to use the language that could be understood so that His messages could be heard and understood.
Throughout the New Testament, the word translated ‘God’ is most often ‘theos’. ‘Theos’ is really a generic word for deity or the supreme divinity. John the Baptist used this word in Matthew 3:9 which says, “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Satan used this word in Matthew 4:3 where we read, “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” The Lord Jesus used this word in Matthew 5:8 where He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
While on the cross the Lord Jesus called out to God using the Hebrew tongue. Matthew 27:46 says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” ‘El’ simply means ‘god’, so ‘Eli’ means ‘my God.’ We see the prefix ‘El’ used in different portions in the Old Testament to indicate different characteristics of the Lord. Let’s read Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The Hebrew word for ‘God’ here is ‘Elohiym’ which means ‘God Supreme.’ Now, let’s read Genesis 35:11, “And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.” The Hebrew word for ‘God’ here is ‘Elohiym’ and the Hebrew word for ‘God Almighty’ is ‘El Shadday.’
Very often, instead of using the word ‘God’, the Lord used the word ‘Father’ as in John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” The Lord taught His disciples to pray and use the word ‘Father’ as we read in Matthew 6:9-13, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” The word ‘Father’ gives the thought of an intimate relationship. What a blessed thought that the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is also our Father as the Lord said in John 20:17, “Jesus saith unto her…I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
In Psalms 91:1-2 we have a unique portion. Here the Lord is referred to with four different names. That says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” The word for ‘most High’ is ‘elyone.’ The word for ‘Almighty’ is ‘Shadday.’ The word for ‘Lord’ is ‘Jehovah’; and the word for ‘God’ is ‘Elohiym.’ It’s been estimated that there are more than 70 names for the Lord in the scriptures. Each one is important for each one brings out a different characteristic of the Lord. Until we know the Lord as savior, all the different names will mean little to us. I trust that you have bowed your knee to the Lord and trusted Him as your Lord and Savior, so that you will never know Him as your judge.