Immanuel or Emmanuel (Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל, romanized: ʿĪmmānūʾēl, "God [is] with us"; Koine Greek: Ἐμμανουήλ Emmanūēl) is a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) as a sign that God will protect the House of David.
Emmanuel means “”God with us,”” a powerful promise of God’s presence and love that is central to Christian faith. The name appears as “”Immanuel”” in the Old Testament and “”Emmanuel”” in the New Testament, both signifying the same meaning.
In that moment when God became flesh, humanity watched prophecies unfold as hope was born. The New Testament makes it clear, Jesus, God’s Son, was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. He was the long-promised Emmanuel, sent by God to save His people and usher in a new kingdom.
At its core, "Emmanuel" comes from the Hebrew phrase "Immanuel," which translates to "God with us." This name is rich in meaning and encapsulates a pivotal theme within the Christian tradition: the intimate presence of God among His people.
What does the name "Emmanuel" mean in the Bible and why is it significant?
From the Hebrew name עִמָּנוּאֵל (ʿImmanuʾel) meaning "God is with us", from the roots עִם (ʿim) meaning "with" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This was the foretold name of the Messiah in the Old Testament. It has been used in England since the 16th century in the spellings Emmanuel and Immanuel, though it has not been widespread [1].
Emmanuel represents more than a simple name; it expresses a fundamental Catholic belief that God chose to enter into human experience and remain with humanity through Christ and the Church.