[a. L. Iēsū-s, a. Gr. Ἰησοῦς, ad. late Heb. or Aram. yēshūăs, Jeshua, for the earlier y’hōshūăs, Jehoshua or Joshua (explained as ‘Jah (or Jahveh) is salvation’: cf. y’shūsāh ‘salvation, deliverance,’ and Matt. i. 21), a frequent Jewish personal name, which, as that of the Founder of Christianity, has passed through Gr. and L. into all the languages of Christendom.
In OE. rendered by hǽlend ‘saviour’ (see HEALEND); but during the ME. period regularly used in its OF. (objective) form Iesu (Jesu). The (L. nom.) form Iesus (Jesus) was rare in ME., but became the regular Eng. form in 16th c. Yet in Tindale’s New Test., 1525–34, the form Iesu was generally used where the Gr. has Ἰησοῦ, the Vulgate Iesu, in the vocative and oblique cases. This was, as a rule, retained by Coverdale 1535, and in the Great Bible 1539, also, in the vocative instances, in the Bishops’ Bible 1568; but in representing the Gr. oblique cases, this has Iesus. Iesu disappeared from the Geneva 1557 (exc. in one place), and from the Rhemish 1582, and the version of 1611. Jesu was frequent in the earlier forms of the Book of Common Prayer, and survives in one place; in later use it occurs in hymns, rarely in nom. or obj., but frequently in the vocative. In hymns, the possessive Jesus’ is commonly sung.
In ME. the name was rarely written in full, being usually represented by the abbreviations ihu, and ihc, ihs, ihus, or iñu, etc.: see IHS. These have been erroneously expanded by modern editors as Ihesu, Ihesus; the latter occurs occasionally in early 16th-c. printed books.]
1. The proper name.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 235. Ures hlafordes to-cyme þes helendes iesu [ed. ihesu] cristes.
c. 1240. Ureisun, in Lamb. Hom., 200. Iesu soð god, soð mon, & soð meidenes bern. Ibid., 202. Þet mei iesu þis baldeliche seggen to þe.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. Prol. 165. Were þere a belle on here beiȝ, bi Iesu [ed. Ihesu], as me thynketh, Men myȝte wite where þei went, and awei renne. Ibid., III. 154. Bi iesus [ed. Ihesus], with here ieweles, ȝowre iustices she shendeth.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 1450. For Iesu love that died on rood.
1526. Tindale, Matt. i. 1. The boke off the generacion off Ihesus Christ. [So i. 16; elsewhere usually Iesus.] Ibid., Matt. viii. 29 O Iesu the sonne off God. [So Coverd., Great B., Bps’., Geneva; Rhem., and 1611 Iesus.] Ibid., Luke xvii. 13. Iesu master, have mercy on vs. [So Cov., Gr., Bps’.; Gen., Rh., 1611 Iesus.] [So also Acts vii. 59.] Ibid., Luke xviii. 38. Iesus the sonne of David, have mercy on me. [Cov., Gr., Bps’. Iesu; Gen., etc. Iesus.] Ibid., Rev. xxii. 20 Even soo: come lorde Iesu [so Cov., Gr.; Bps’., Gen., etc. Iesus.] Ibid., Luke viii. 28. What have I to do wyth the Iesus the sonne off the moost hyest? [So all later versions.] Ibid., Rev. xxii. 21. The grace of oure lorde Iesus [1534 Iesu, so Cov., Gr.; Gen., Bps’., etc. Iesus] Christ be with you all. Ibid., Rom. xv. 17. Wheroff I maye reioyse in Christ Iesu. [So Cov., Gr.; Gen., Bps’., etc. Iesus.] Ibid., xv. 30. For oure lorde Iesu [1534 Iesus: so all later versions] Christes sake.
1544. Supplic. to Hen. VIII. (E.E.T.S.), 57. Through thy Sone Ihesus Christe.
1552. Bk. Com. Prayer, Gen. Confess., According to thy promyses declared vnto mankynde, in Christe Iesu oure Lorde. [So in mod. Pr. Bk.]
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Jesu. Jesu is in my heart, his sacred name Is deeply carved there.
1676. Etheredge, Man of Mode, III. i. Wks. (1888), 283. Jesu! madam, what will your mother think is become of you?
1740. C. Wesley, Hymn. Jesu, lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly.
1779. Cowper, Olney Hymns, xlix. 2. Lord, my soul with pleasure springs When Jesus’ name I hear.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., St. Stephen’s Day, v. Jesu, do Thou my soul receive.
1881. N. T. (R.V.), John xii. 9. They came, not for Jesus’ [1611 Iesus] sake only.
† 2. A figure or representation of Jesus Christ, as a CRUCIFIX or ECCE HOMO, or an emblem or device such as the letters IHS, etc. Obs.
1487. Will of Laurence (Somerset Ho.). My Jhus of gold.
3. attrib. and Comb., as Jesus-worshipper; Jesus-like adj.; Jesus day, the festival of the Name of Jesus, 7 Aug.; Jesus mass, a votive mass in honor of the Name of Jesus.
1540. Ihc masse [see IHS].
1546. Acc., in Sharp, Cov. Myst. (1825), 214. Paid to þe mynstrell on Jhesus day at Smyths tavern xijd.
1641. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., xi. 40. He is not afraid to call Christians Iesu-worshippers.
a. 1711. Ken, Urania, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 474. No Grace on earth more Jesus-like appears Than Charity.
1886. Archæol. Cantiana, XVI. p. lviii. The Jesus altar and Jesus mass are often mentioned in wills of parishioners [of Sandwich].
