What language did Jesus speak?

April 24, 2023

What language did Jesus speak?

Education

Life of Jesus
Gaudenzio Ferrari – This file has been **extracted** from another file

Furthermore, the language spoken by Jesus is a topic of considerable debate among scholars. While most scholars agree that Jesus was a historical figure who lived in first-century Palestine, there is no direct evidence that can tell us for certain what language he spoke.

Moreover, let’s examine the various arguments put forward by scholars regarding the language spoken by Jesus and explore the implications of each argument.

A four-page papyrus manuscript, which is torn in many places — A 3rd-century Greek papyrus of the Gospel of Luke

Perhaps the most popular academic theory regarding the langauge rests on the belief Jesus spoke Aramaic.

Aramaic, a common language in the region during the first century and spoken by many Jewish people, including those living in Palestine.

74.9 x 102.2 cm — *The Circumcision* by Giovanni Bellini, ~1500. The work depicts the circumcision of Jesus.
Giovanni Bellini – http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/workshop-of-giovanni-bellini-the-circumcision

Supporters of this view point to various sources, including the New Testament, to support their argument. For example, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus apparently, became recorded as saying “Talitha koum” to a young girl. Which is an Aramaic phrase meaning “little girl, I say to you, arise”. Additionally, several instances in the New Testament speak of Aramaic words becoming used. As a result, indicating that the Aramaic language became spoken by some of the people in the region.

*Adoration of the Shepherds* by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622
Gerard van Honthorst – Google Art Project

Another view put forward by some scholars is that Jesus spoke Hebrew. Hebrew was the language of the Jewish scriptures and became used in the synagogues during the time of Jesus. Supporters of this view argue that Jesus would have been familiar with Hebrew due to his religious training and would have used it to read the scriptures and communicate with other Jews. Additionally, some scholars argue that the fact that Hebrew became used in the synagogue suggests that it was a language spoken by some people in the region.

A third view that has been put forward by some scholars is that Jesus spoke Greek. Greek was a language widely spoken throughout the Roman Empire and was used as a lingua franca for communication between different peoples. Supporters of this view argue that Jesus would have been exposed to Greek due to the widespread use of the language in the region and that he may have used it to communicate with non-Jewish people.

Bible.malmesbury.arp.jpg — A Bible handwritten in Latin, on display in Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire, England. The Bible written in Belgium in 1407 AD, for reading aloud in a monastery.

Despite the various arguments put forward by scholars, it is unlikely that we will ever know for certain what language Jesus spoke. Thus, the evidence is fragmentary. In addition, the sources that we have are often ambiguous or open to interpretation. Moreover, it is possible that Jesus spoke multiple languages, depending on the context and the people he was communicating with.

In conclusion, the question of what language Jesus spoke remains a matter of debate among scholars. While there are arguments in favor of Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek, it is impossible to say with certainty which language Jesus spoke. Nonetheless, the debate over this question is significant, as it has implications for our understanding of the historical context in which Jesus lived and the ways in which he communicated his teachings to his followers.