One of the names of our Lord Jesus is Emmanuel, which is spelled Immanuel in the Old Testament. The Hebrew name means “God with us.” This name was first prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. In this well-known promise, God Almighty foretold the virgin birth of the coming Messiah. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

In the opening chapters of the New Testament, this is the very verse that the angel quoted to Joseph when announcing the birth of our Lord Jesus. “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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 1:20–23).

The Hebrew name עִמָּנוּ אֵל (Immanuel) is a combination of three separate particles, or word forms. Put together by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they form a complete picture of the divine attribute of immanence. Let’s look at each particle that comprises the name Immanuel.

God—אֵל

This common and widespread name of God is the simplified form of Elohim. Literally the word means “the strong one” or “the high one”; the word is used to describe God in the fullness of His majesty, power, and glorified state.

Interestingly, it is also the same word used frequently in the Old Testament to describe pagan gods. However, pagan gods, such as Baal, would never associate with mankind in an intimate, personal way. The priests of Baal on Mount Carmel shouted and begged their god to come close to them and accept their offering, even slashing themselves with knives to demonstrate their devotion to him. Yet, he did not come.

Only the God of the Bible, the true and living God, is willing and able to commune with man. He hears our prayers. He sees our needs. He met our deepest need by sending His Son into the world as the incarnate Savior. Indeed, in contrast to Baal, God did come!

With—עִמ

This simple preposition makes all the difference in the world! Through the Lord Jesus, the triune God has become one with us.

There are two different Hebrew prepositions that can express the idea of association. Of the two, this one is the most intimate, most personal, and most tender. God is not merely “with” us in the sense of a business association. He is “with” us in the fullest, grandest sense of a personal bond of union.

Us—נוּ

Of all the creatures in His universe, God wanted to become one with us, His disobedient and wandering children. God could have chosen to become one with His angels or the animal kingdom. Yet, He longed for and accomplished eternal union with mankind! The writer of Hebrews described the importance of the incarnation in Hebrews 2:17, “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

Christ Jesus was made like us and bore the curse of our sin. For most of His life, He earned His bread by the sweat of His brow as a carpenter. He was a “man of sorrows” and acquainted with our griefs. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. He was weary and slept in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. He was hungry during the days of His temptation. He was thirsty while on the long road through Samaria when He sat with the woman at the well. He suffered cursing from men and physical agony on the cross, and He knew the curse of the thorns pressing hard upon His brow. Ultimately, He bore the curse of death for our sake when He released His spirit into the hands of His Father.

Only Emmanuel could be our Redeemer. He had to be fully God. But it is equally important to emphasize that Christ had to be fully man to accomplish our redemption. Without the divine attribute of immanence, our God might be omnipotent, omnipresent, glorious, and eternal, but all of these qualities would do us no good unless our God became a man in order to be our Emmanuel.