The language Jesus spoke during his earthly ministry has been a topic of debate and speculation among scholars for centuries. The Bible itself does not explicitly state what language(s) Jesus used, but analysis of the historical and linguistic context of first-century Judea can provide some clues.
Most scholars agree that Jesus likely grew up speaking Aramaic as his primary language. Aramaic was the common language of Jews in Galilee and Judea at the time of Jesus. Hebrew was used primarily for religious purposes and scholarship. Greek was also widely spoken, especially in major cities due to the influence of Roman occupation. It’s possible Jesus also knew some Greek, but Aramaic was likely his mother tongue.
Here is a summary of the key evidence concerning the language(s) used by Jesus:
- Jesus was raised in the Galilean town of Nazareth. Aramaic was the predominant language spoken by Jews in Galilee during Jesus’ time.
- The Gospels record Jesus using Aramaic words like “talitha koum” (Mark 5:41) and “Ephphatha” (Mark 7:34), suggesting he spoke Aramaic.
- When quoting the Old Testament, Jesus would have used the Hebrew text, though his quotations in the Gospels are recorded in Greek.
- Jesus spoke with people from various regions, including Roman officials and Samaritans. This implies he likely knew some Greek as well.
- On the cross, Jesus cries out “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani?” (Mark 15:34). This is Aramaic, translating to “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Based on this evidence, most Bible scholars conclude the primary language spoken by Jesus was Aramaic. But he also likely knew Hebrew for reading scripture and some Greek for communicating more widely. Let’s explore the linguistic background of Judea and each of these languages in more detail.
Aramaic as the Common Language
By the first century AD, Aramaic had replaced Hebrew as the language of the people in Judea. Jesus was raised in Galilee, a rural area where Aramaic was widely spoken. Nazareth likely had a population of just 400-500 in Jesus’ time, so Aramaic would have been used for daily life and interactions.
Aramaic originated in the ancient Syrian and Mesopotamian regions. It gradually became the lingua franca of the Near East after the Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC. The influence of the Persian and Greek Empires spread Aramaic over a wide area. Many Jews picked up Aramaic during the 70 years of captivity in Babylon.
By the 1st century AD, Aramaic existed in several dialects. Galilean Aramaic had distinctive features, including the use of the “an” prefix and certain vowel shifts. Jesus likely spoke this Galilean dialect with its unique accent and expressions.
Aramaic words or phrases are preserved in the Gospels, suggesting Jesus used this language. For instance:
- “Talitha koum” (Mark 5:41) – “Little girl, get up.” Spoken to raise Jairus’ daughter.
- “Ephphatha” (Mark 7:34) – “Be opened.” Said to heal a deaf man.
- “Raca” (Matthew 5:22) – “Fool or empty-head.” Used as a rebuke.
- “Eloi Eloi lema sabachthani?” (Mark 15:34) – “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Spoken by Jesus on the cross.
- “Abba” (Mark 14:36) – “Father.” Used by Jesus to address God in prayer.
Jesus also likely grew up hearing the Aramaic translations of the Old Testament known as the Targums. These gave translations and expansions of Hebrew scripture texts in the common Aramaic vernacular. The Targums were widely used in synagogues to help Aramaic-speaking Jews understand the Hebrew texts.
In addition to his quotations in the Gospels, Jesus’ native tongue of Aramaic may be hinted at in a few places:
- In Acts 1:19, Luke says Akeldama was called the “Field of Blood” in the “native language.” This was likely Aramaic.
- When Jesus called Paul on the Damascus road, he spoke to Paul in Hebrew (Acts 26:14). If Hebrew was notable, Jesus’ normal speech was likely Aramaic.
- In John 20:16, when the risen Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene, he said her name “Mary.” He likely used the Aramaic form, not the Greek.
So while the Gospels record the actual words of Jesus in Greek, there is strong evidence he spoke primarily in the Aramaic language. This was the vernacular tongue of his upbringing and ministry context in Galilee and Judea.
Hebrew Used for Religious Study
While Aramaic was the common tongue, Hebrew remained an important language for Jewish religious life and study. The sacred Scriptures were recorded in Hebrew, and some religious literature and debate still occurred in Hebrew.
Hebrew had been the language of the Israelites since ancient times. It was spoken by the Jewish patriarchs and prophets and used throughout the Old Testament period. Major portions of the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah are written in Hebrew (Ezra 4:8–6:18; 7:12–26; Nehemiah 8:8).
During the Babylonian exile, Aramaic gradually displaced Hebrew as the everyday language of the Jews. But Hebrew was preserved as a sacred language. After their return from exile, Ezra reads the Law to the people in Hebrew, then translates it into Aramaic so they can understand (Nehemiah 8:8).
By Jesus’ day, Hebrew was used primarily by scribes, in the temple, and for religious study. The Mishnah (oral law) was developing in Hebrew, and debates between rabbis would often involve Hebrew. Both Jesus and his disciples were likely able to converse in Hebrew regarding religious matters.
Jesus quotes from the Hebrew Old Testament numerous times. When he read Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21), he would have read it in Hebrew. He even occasionally translated Hebrew phrases such as “Hosanna” (John 12:13) and “Cephas” (John 1:42) for non-Jewish audiences.
However, outside the religious sphere, Hebrew had declined so that it was no longer understood by common people. That is why translations like the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) and Aramaic Targums were necessary.
While Jesus knew Hebrew for studying the Scriptures and his father’s trade of carpentry (terms for tools and woodworking were passed down in Hebrew), he appears to have conversed primarily in Aramaic. But he valued Hebrew as the language of Scripture and his Jewish heritage.
Greek: The Language of Outreach
As the language of the dominant Roman Empire, Greek served as a common tongue for reaching the broader Mediterranean world. Major trade centers like Caesarea and cities like Sepphoris near Nazareth were largely influenced by Greek language and culture.
While Aramaic and Hebrew were used for internal Jewish life, Greek connected the Jews to the wider empire. It was associated with Gentiles more than Hebrew or Aramaic were.
The influence of Alexander the Great imposed Greek culture over Judea centuries earlier. This led to the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek (the Septuagint) in the 3rd century BC at Alexandria.
By Jesus’ day, many Jews spoke Greek, especially in the larger cities. People in markets did business in Greek, and Roman decrees were issued in Greek. Educated Jews like Saul/Paul (Acts 22:3) and Josephus were fluent Greek speakers.
However, Greek was not the primary language in rural Galilee where Jesus was raised. Jesus likely picked up some colloquial spoken Greek later in his ministry for communicating with Gentiles and Greek-speaking Jews.
A few passages in the Gospels suggest Jesus may have known some Greek:
- He likely spoke Greek with the Roman centurion in Matthew 8:5-13.
- Jesus conversed with the Greek Syro-Phoenician woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon according to Mark 7:24-30.
- When Philip and Andrew introduced some Greeks to Jesus in John 12:20-26, he communicated with them in some way.
- The inscriptions on Jesus’ cross were written in Latin, Greek, and Aramaic according to John 19:20.
Overall, while Jesus may have picked up some Greek later in his ministry, Aramaic and Hebrew appear to have been his main languages based on his upbringing and teaching contexts.
In What Language Were Jesus’ Teachings Preserved?
The sayings of Jesus were likely spoken by him in Aramaic, or possibly Hebrew when discussing the Hebrew Scriptures. But the Gospel writers recorded his words in Greek.
Greek had become the common language of writing by Jesus’ day, even among many Jews. The disciples were likely bilingual or trilingual, able to engage Greek speakers about Jesus’ teachings.
Though they may have taken notes in Aramaic, Jesus’ teachings that circulated orally would have quickly been rendered in Greek. This allowed the message about his life to spread throughout the Roman Empire.
Greek was the most universal written language at the time. By writing Gospels and letters in Greek, Jesus’ followers could evangelize Gentiles and dispersed Greek-speaking Jews.
The Gospel writers sought to translate Jesus’ original Aramaic accurately into Greek. For instance, when Peter is addressed in John 1:42, Jesus likely originally called him “Cephas” – an Aramaic nickname meaning “rock.” John translates this for his Greek readers.
Translation between languages was common. In Acts 6, Christian Hellenists (Greek-speakers) accused the Hebraic Hebrews of neglecting their widows. This cultural-linguistic tension forced the early church to solve problems throughtranslators (Acts 6:1-7).
Jesus’ followers sought to proclaim his message and accurately preserve his teachings for new audiences. So while his words circulated orally in Aramaic, they were soon written down in Greek Gospels and letters.
These Greek New Testament texts were then later translated into many other languages like Latin, Syriac, Coptic, and eventually English. This allowed Jesus’ life and teachings to spread throughout the world.
Did Jesus Ever Speak Latin or Other Ancient Languages?
Jesus lived within the Roman Empire under occupation in Judea. However, there is no record that he ever spoke Latin.
Rome conquered Judea in 63 BC, but Latin did not replace Greek and Aramaic as the dominant languages during the time of Jesus. Latin was used for official Roman documents and decrees, but many Roman officials and soldiers also spoke Greek.
Jesus likely did interact with Roman officials like Pilate, soldiers, and tax collectors. These conversations may have occurred in Latin, Greek, or with the aid of translators. But the biblical texts do not specifically tell us the languages used in those exchanges.
Besides Latin, some other languages existed in the first-century Middle East, though on a smaller scale. For instance, Nabatean in the Arabian Peninsula, Elamite in Persia, Coptic in Egypt. Jesus may have encountered some of these languages during his childhood exile in Egypt, but he does not appear to have used them in his ministry.
Overall, the evidence strongly indicates that Aramaic and Hebrew were Jesus’ primary languages. He also picked up enough colloquial Greek later on to converse with Gentiles and Roman officials when needed. But Latin or other regional languages were likely not used directly by Jesus.
Interpreting Jesus’ Words into Modern Languages
Understanding what language Jesus spoke helps inform how we interpret and translate his words today. Jesus likely spoke in a Galilean dialect of Aramaic, with distinct cultural nuances and figures of speech.
Some of these original Semitic concepts can be lost when translating the Gospels solely from Greek. Modern interpreters try to recover Jesus’ original meaning and context behind the Greek, envisioning how he taught in his own language and culture.
For instance, in Mark 7:27 when Jesus spoke with the Syro-Phoenician woman, his mention of letting the children be fed first may have incorporated Aramaic idioms with children, food, and household pets. Understanding the original cultural context can shed light on Jesus’ intent.
Ongoing biblical study and archaeology continue to bring insight on the languages of Jesus’ day. For instance, new studies propose connections between first-century Aramaic and Eastern Syriac literature.
Some Bible versions even translate directly from Aramaic or Hebrew originals rather than solely from Greek texts. The Delitzsch Hebrew New Testament and the Hebrew-Aramaic New Testament are examples. This provides additional linguistic perspective.
Jesus’ teachings have been meticulously preserved, translated, and passed down through history. Understanding the original languages and contexts in which he taught can help modern readers gain a more accurate interpretation of Scripture.
Conclusion on the Languages Jesus Spoke
In summary, the evidence from history and the biblical texts strongly indicates Aramaic was the primary language of Jesus:
- Jesus grew up in Galilee where Aramaic was the main spoken language of common Jews.
- Hebrew remained important for religious study and debates.
- Jesus likely absorbed some Greek later on in his ministry to reach wider audiences.
- Jesus’ teachings were originally preserved in Greek writing due to its widespread use.
- His words moved quickly from oral Aramaic to written Greek translations and then other languages.
This linguistic context is insightful for understanding Jesus’ background and teaching style. His willingness to communicate across languages and cultures also demonstrates God’s heart for the entire world, not just one nation or people group (John 3:16).
In a similar way, Jesus’ teachings continue to be translated into new tongues and cultures today. His words can cross all language barriers to bring the message of truth, salvation, and eternal life to people everywhere – just as he intended.
