The name Emanuel (also spelled Emmanuel) has a direct connection to Jesus Christ through the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah and its subsequent use in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew. Here's the breakdown:
* Meaning of Emanuel: The name Emanuel is Hebrew and means "God with us." It's a compound name derived from:
* *Immanu* (עִמָּנוּ), meaning "with us"
* *El* (אֵל), meaning "God"
* Isaiah's Prophecy: In the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14), the prophet Isaiah declares: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." This verse is a prophecy about a future child who will be a sign that God is with his people.
* Matthew's Use: In the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:22-23), this prophecy is applied to Jesus' birth: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)."
* Significance: Matthew's Gospel connects Jesus' birth to the prophecy in Isaiah, stating that Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy. While Jesus' given name was Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew, meaning "the Lord saves"), the name Emanuel emphasizes the idea that in Jesus, God is present and active among humanity. It speaks to the divinity of Jesus.