Iesous is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning 'Yahweh saves' or 'Yahweh is salvation.' In the New Testament's 924 occurrences it refers overwhelmingly to Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, though in a few passages it denotes the Old Testament Joshua (Acts 7:45; Heb 4:8) or Jesus called Justus (Col 4:11). The angel's announcement to Joseph in Matt 1:21 makes the etymology explicit: 'you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' The name passes into every language with minimal adaptation -- Spanish Jesus, French Jesus, German Jesus -- reflecting its status as the most recognized proper name in human history.