Etymology Dictionary

JESUS,  the Saviour of mankind.  (L.,—Gk.,—Heb.)   In Wyclif's Bible.—Lat. Jesus (Vulgate).—Gk. Ἰησοῦς.—Heb. Yéshú‛a (Jeshua, Nehem. viii. 17, another form of Joshua); contracted form of Yehóshu‛a (Jehoshua, Numb. xiii. 16), signifying 'help of Jehovah' or 'Saviour.'—Heb. root yásha‛, to be large; in the Hiphil conjugation, to save.   Der. Jesuit, q.v.   Doublets, Joshua, Jeshua, Jehoshua.   ➩ In M.E. commonly written in a contracted form (Ihs̄), which by editors is often printed Jhesus.   This is really an error, the h standing for the Gk. H (long e), so that 'Ihs̄' = Iesus.   So also 'Ihū' = Iesu.   In Gk. capitals, it is IHC, where H = long e and C = s, being a form of the Gk. sigma; the mark above signifying that the form is contracted.   In later times IHC became IHS.   Lastly (the H being misunderstood) the ingenious fiction arose that IHS meant Iesus Hominum Salvator = Jesus Saviour of Men.   The mark, being then unmeaning, was turned into a little cross, as on modern altar-cloths.