jesu

Jesu is a form of the name Jesus used in various languages and contexts, notably in German and in certain liturgical or historical texts. The given name Jesus ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation.”

Traditionally identified as Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish preacher active in 1st-century Judea, his ministry, crucifixion in Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate, and reported resurrection are central to Christian belief. The primary sources about his life are the Gospels of the New Testament, supplemented by other early Christian writings. Non-Christian sources from the first and second centuries mention Jesus as a historical figure, though details about his life and the interpretation of his actions vary among historians and scholars.

In Christian theology, Jesus is regarded as the central figure through whom salvation is believed to be offered. Interpretations of his nature and role differ among denominations, ranging from views of divine incarnation to nontrinitarian understandings. Beyond Christianity, Jesus is also recognized in Islam as a prophet (Isa) and messenger of God, though not divine. The form Jesu appears in liturgical, poetic, and devotional contexts, and can be found in titles and hymns such as those used in German-speaking religious and musical traditions.