Jesus Christ Detail of Jesus Christ from the Deësis Mosaic in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 12th century. (more) What Language Did Jesus Speak? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/What-Language-Did-Jesus-Speak Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 18, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot It is widely agreed among historians that Jesus primarily spoke Aramaic, the common language of Palestine and Syria. By the 6th century bce, Aramaic had largely replaced Hebrew as the everyday language of Jews, while Hebrew remained in use for religious and scholarly purposes. As a Galilean from Nazareth, Jesus would have naturally spoken Aramaic, the lingua franca of the region. The influence of Aramaic was so strong that parts of the Bible, including the books of Daniel and Ezra, were written in it. Jesus would also have been familiar with Hebrew, particularly for reading scripture and participating in religious ...(100 of 168 words)

　　Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!