# Names of Biblical characters in other languages **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 10, 2006, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059 "2006-04-10T11:01:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/1 "2006-04-10T11:01:37Z")
Is there a web page that has a list or table of common Biblical characters showing their names in common languages? Example: [ul] [li]English: Adam Noah Moses Jesus Peter[/li][li]German: Adam Noach Moses Jesus Petrus[/li][li]French: Adam Noé Moïse Jésus Pierre[/li][li]Arabic: آدم نوح موسى المسيح بطرس (Ādam Nūḥ Musa Isa Butros)[/li][li]Russian: Адам Нух Моисей Иисус Пётр[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/2 "2006-04-10T11:30:59Z")
If nothing better pops up you can go into Wikipedia and click on the “In other languages”: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint\_Peter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter) ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/3 "2006-04-10T12:15:08Z")
[This site](http://www.biblegateway.com/), perhaps, may help a bit. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/4 "2006-04-10T14:07:24Z")
I should point out that “`Isa" for "Jesus" is a Muslim rendering, based on the Qur'an. Arab Christians refer to Him as "Yasu`”, and say that “`Isa” is actually the Arabic rendering for “Esau”. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/5 "2006-04-10T14:48:57Z")
Another example of different names in Arabic is John: Yûhannâ in the Bible, Yahyá in the Qur’an. They’re not etymologically connected; Yahyá is a verb literally meaning ‘he lives’. Kind of an American Indian sounding thing to name a person with a verb, like Stands With Fist. The names Yasû‘ and Yûhannâ come from the Syriac version of the Bible, I believe. Eve: Hawwâ’ Mary: Maryam Adam is the same in any language. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/6 "2006-04-10T16:58:22Z")
I’ve often wondered about this; my name is a common American name, and a minor but well-known Biblical character. I often ask how to say it in various languages (even other European languages) and often get told there is no equivalent or translation, but surely there is one in the Bible? ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/7 "2006-04-10T21:23:53Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Adam is the same in any language. Adam in Spanish is: Adán ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/8 "2006-04-10T21:36:28Z")
Bit of a hijack… But how do translations of biblical names “work” ? For example “John”, “Peter” or “Paul” in English, when the bible was first translated to English were these just a direct translation of the syllables from the Greek/Hebrew or were these an existing name that sounded close to the origianal greek ? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/9 "2006-04-10T21:41:55Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > I’ve often wondered about this; my name is a common American name, and a minor but well-known Biblical character. What’s your name? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/10 "2006-04-10T22:22:35Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > If nothing better pops up you can go into Wikipedia and click on the “In other languages”: Yeah, that’s how I got the names for my original posting. But it takes forever to look them up one at a time. I’d rather have a table all on one page. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/11 "2006-04-10T22:46:39Z")
In Hebrew, the first three are Adam, Noach, and Mosheh. I haven’t heard much discussion of Jesus or St. Peter in any context where I would have heard or seen Hebrew used. ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/12 "2006-04-10T23:21:44Z")
> [@Captain Amazing](#): > > What’s your name? Joshua ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/13 "2006-04-10T23:28:02Z")
joshua should be very easy to find in any language as it is a book in the old testament. in russian, joshua and jesus are the same name. not very popular as a name there. both are pronounced ee-ee-sus. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/14 "2006-04-10T23:56:58Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > Joshua In Spanish, Portugese and French, it’s “Josue”. In Romanian, it’s “Iosua” In German, it’s “Josua”. In Magyar, it’s “Jozsue” In Dutch, it’s “Jozua” In Norwegian, it’s “Josvas” In Vietnamese, it’s “Gioa-suea” (Diacritical marks removed in all cases, because I don’t know how to make them) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/15 "2006-04-11T04:50:43Z")
> [@](#): > > in russian, joshua and jesus are the same name. In the original Hebrew, they were also. The guy who died on the cross had the same name as the fellow who succeeded Moses and finished leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. It’s purely an accident of history that we remember the guy who died on the cross by the Greek version of his name. So in that sense, you could argue that you’re named after a Biblical character who’s not minor at all. ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/16 "2006-04-11T04:57:01Z")
> [@Lama Pacos](#): > > Joshua I understood Joshua and Jesus to be the same name. Jesus is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew Joshua, I believe. **Psychonaut** , you write the Arabic version of Jesus’ name as المسيح - this actually is his title, meaning the Messiah, or the Christ. Isa (ee-sa), your correct rendering of the name of Jesus, is written as ﻯﺴﻴﻋ ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/17 "2006-04-11T04:58:09Z")
Damn you, **Chronos**! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/18 "2006-04-11T18:42:38Z")
I realize this is violating the “common languages” clause in the OP, but what’s the point of having a Welsh Bible if you don’t use it? Adam: Adda (atha-ah) Eve : Efa (ave-ah) Noah: Noa Moses: Moses Jesus: Iesu (yes-ee) Peter: Pedr (ped-rr) Joshua: Josua (jos-oo-ah or jos-ee-ah… they’re not entirely consistent with U in the Bible) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/19 "2006-04-11T19:07:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > In the original Hebrew, they were also. The guy who died on the cross had the same name as the fellow who succeeded Moses and finished leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. It’s purely an accident of history that we remember the guy who died on the cross by the Greek version of his name. Yes and no - technically, Joshua is “Yehoshua” while Jesus is “Yeshua.” They’re varients of the same name, much as Jonathan can be either “Yonatan” or “Yehonatan.” > [@Chronos](#): > > So in that sense, you could argue that you’re named after a Biblical character who’s not minor at all. Joshua wasn’t a minor character! He had a whole (action-filled) book named after him, which isn’t something you can say about JC. - Josh. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059/20 "2006-04-11T19:32:30Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Joshua wasn’t a minor character! He had a whole (action-filled) book named after him, which isn’t something you can say about JC. He was also very intolerant. He judged Ruth, after all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-of-biblical-characters-in-other-languages/352059.md?page=2)