What language did the Jesus speak?

Well, when it comes to the language that Jesus spoke, most religious scholars and historians agree that he primarily spoke a Galilean dialect of Aramaic. This was a common language in the region during Jesus’ time.

Aramaic was a Semitic language that originated in the Near East and had spread far and wide by the 7th century B.C. It became the lingua franca, or common language, in many parts of the Middle East due to trade, invasions, and conquests. So it’s not surprising that Jesus would have been familiar with and spoken this language.

The Galilean dialect of Aramaic was a specific variation of the language that was spoken in the region of Galilee, where Jesus grew up. It had some unique features compared to other dialects, but it was still part of the broader Aramaic language family.

Now, it’s worth noting that during Jesus’ time, there were also other languages spoken in the region. Greek was the language of the educated elite and was commonly used in trade and commerce. Hebrew was the language of religious texts and rituals, and Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, which ruled over Judea.

While Jesus may have been exposed to these other languages to some extent, it is generally believed that Aramaic was his primary language. This is supported by various biblical texts that record Jesus speaking in Aramaic, such as when he addressed the crowds or when he performed miracles.

It’s important to remember that the New Testament, which contains the accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings, was written in Greek. This was likely because Greek was a more widely understood language among the early Christian communities and it allowed for the message of Jesus to be spread to a broader audience.