Why did Isaiah 7:14 prophesy Jesus' name would be Emmanual (or Immanuel), and yet he was named Jesus? (Matthew 1:18-23)

We recommend a Powerpoint sermon called “In Jesus’ Name,” by Joe Megacz.

Quoting from that YouTube video:

Why didn’t Joseph call his name Emmanuel like Isaiah had prophesied? (See Matthew 1:18-23)

Bible dictionaries tell us “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua.” The full name of “Joshua” has two parts: “Jeho” and “shua,” meaning “Jehovah saves.”

Later this name assumed the form Joshua, sometimes pronounced Yeshua, from which came the Greek form “Jesus.” But the Hebrew origin of the Greek name literally means “Jehovah saves” or “God saves.”

That name was given to our Lord Jesus to describe the mission of his life to save the people from their sins, as we read in Matthew 1:2.

What about the name Isaiah prophesied would be given to Jesus, Emmanuel? In Hebrew, the word “El” means a “mighty one,” and it is often used in the Old Testament to refer to God and to also other “mighty ones,” mighty men of the earth.

The word “El” was often made part of peoples’ names to include a reference to God. For example, the name Elijah, or “El-i-jah” begins with “El” and means “Jehovah is God.” The name Daniel or “Dan-El” ends with “El” and means “God is my judge.”

With the name “Emmanu-El,” we see the suffix “El” at the end, which tells us “God” is part of that name.

Bible dictionaries say that the first part of that name “Emmanu” means “God with us,” so the entire name, Emmanuel, means “God is with us.” Indeed, God was with mankind in that He turned his favor toward mankind when He gave His only begotten son, Jesus, to be the savior of the world.

Thus, the scripture in Matthew chapter 1 is not so confusing when it says, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus to fulfill what was prophesied, that thou shalt call his name Emmanuel.”

Both names convey the thought of God sending His son Jesus to be the Savior of the world.