'Isa
ee-SAA
Born without a father, spoke as an infant, and did not die as the world believes.
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Root Analysis
Isa is the Quranic form of the name Yeshua (Jesus in Greek transliteration). The original name in Aramaic — Yeshu or Yeshua — means Allah saves, or Allah is salvation. The Quran does not etymologize the name but the meaning is embedded in the mission: Isa comes as a mercy (19:21), as a sign to humanity, and his message is the same message all prophets carried: worship Allah alone.
Quranic Occurrence
Isa is named 25 times in the Quran. He is described by several titles: Masih (Messiah), Kalimatullah (word of Allah), and Ibn Maryam (son of Mary — which is itself how the Quran most frequently refers to him: Isa ibn Maryam). The frequency of his mention across surahs from Meccan to Medinan periods shows the centrality of the question of his nature to the Quranic theological project.