Language Lab: What Does “immanuel” Mean?

Language Lab: What Does “Immanuel” Mean?

Bible Blast: Read Deuteronomy 31:6

Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23

It’s Christmas day! How much sleep did you get last night? Did you stay awake all night long because you were so crazy excited about this special day?

It seems appropriate to take a moment between the celebrations to focus on the name Mary gave to Jesus as declared in Matthew 1:23. Immanuel! Sometimes you’ll see it spelled “Emmanuel,” and sometimes it’s spelled “Immanuel.” It means the same thing either way. The name means “God is with us.” Emmanuel is Jesus. Jesus is Immanuel. When Jesus came to the earth as a human, he brought God closer to us. God was really and truly “with us” in a human, visible, touchable form.

That name of Immanuel must have really blown Mary and Joseph away when they held that little baby in Bethlehem. God was with them. Immanuel—right there in their arms.

When you sing the Christmas song “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” you can know it’s all about Christ coming to set people free. When you see the word Israel, you can stick your own name in there, because he came to set you free from the power of sin, too!

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Today’s a busy day, but you can still remember Immanuel when you’re opening presents, giving gifts, eating great food, visiting relatives, and watching football. All day you can know that because of Jesus, God is always with you.

Girl Gab: Grab a few minutes with your mom today, maybe while you help her prepare food or clear the table, and talk to her about the word Immanuel. Tell her what it means. Ask her questions about it. Thank God together that he is always with us.