Matthew 01:18-02:23 has a wordplay between “Jesus” (ישוע), “Save” (יושיע), “Name” (שמו).

This section of Matthew also employs the wordplay “Appeared” (נראה), “Fear” (תירא), “Saw” (ראו) which is used in several other passages in Matthew including the Transfiguration and The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen and the Vineyard. Some of the more interesting wordplays are listed below:


“Jesus” ישוע
“Save” יושיע
“Name” שמו

“Betrothed” ארוסה
“Bind” לאוסרה

“Want” רצה
“Conceiving” הרה

“Appeared” נראה
“Fear” תירא

“People” עמי
“Sins” מעונותם
“Virgin” העלמה
“Emmanuel” עמנואל
“God With Us” אלקים עמנו

“Herod” הורודוס
“Kill” להרוג

“Jeremiah” ירמיה
“Rama” רמה
“Bitterness” תמרורים

“Hastened or Urged” זרזהו
“Nazarith” נאזרית
“Called” הנקראת
“Nazareth” נאזרת

J. Clontz – Editor of the Comprehensive New Testament