# Wherefore "Jebus?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2002, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-jebus/141515 "2002-12-09T14:46:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-jebus/141515/1 "2002-12-09T14:46:50Z")
Where did the slighting, humorous nickname “Jebus” (aka “Jeebus”) originate? I’ve seen it more and more over the past couple of years, used mostly by non-Christians, but also by liberal Christians (such as James Lileks) to taunt Fundies. I first remember hearing it on _The Simpsons_: “Save me, Jebus!” Anyone have an idea, or am I going to have to write to William Safire? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-jebus/141515/2 "2002-12-09T14:50:16Z")
I 1st heard it on the Simpsons too, and I’ve been wondering the same thing too. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-jebus/141515/3 "2002-12-09T15:09:09Z")
This came up in GQ just a couple weeks ago in the thread, [What’s up with Jeebus?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146920&highlight=Jebus) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-jebus/141515/4 "2002-12-09T15:32:39Z")
Oop! Thanks, **peepthis** , I must have missed that one . . . ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-jebus/141515/5 "2002-12-09T19:10:25Z")
Jebus is an old name for Jerusalem, mentioned in two contexts in the Hebrew Scriptures. It seems to have been a standard euphemism for Jesus (the saying of whose name in vain was of course blasphemy for people living in a Christian-based milieu) much like Jee-zum or Jiminy Cricket (whence Pinocchio’s miraculous entomological conscience). > [@](#): > > 10 But the man was not willing to spend the night, so he arose and departed and came to {a place} opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). And there were with him a pair of saddled donkeys; his concubine also was with him. 11 When they {were} near Jebus, the day was almost gone; and the servant said to his master, “Please come, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.” (Judges 19:10-11, NASV) > > 4 Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, {were} there. 5 The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not enter here.” Nevertheless David captured the stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David). (I Chronicles 11:4-5, NASV) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wherefore-jebus/141515/6 "2002-12-09T19:41:09Z")
Good God, awmighty, Poly. I mean…dang.