Bible glossary

What Does ‘Emmanuel’ Mean in the Bible?

Emmanuel means God with us: a name given to Jesus declaring that in Him, God Himself has come to be with His people.

Emmanuel, also spelled Immanuel, is a Hebrew name meaning God with us. It was spoken by the prophet Isaiah as a sign, and the New Testament reveals its full meaning in the birth of Jesus: a child who is God come to dwell among us.

This is one of the most tender truths in the Bible. God did not stay distant. He drew near, entering our world, our flesh, our sorrows and joys. The name promises presence: not a God who watches from far off, but a God who is with us.

Key verses

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Matthew 1:23

“And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Matthew 28:20