What was the real name of the Mother of Christ?

In the Old Testament, the name „Miryam” (מִרְיָם) was borne by the sister of Moses and Aaron. In the New Testament, in Greek, it takes the form Μαριάμ (Mariam) or Μαρία (Maria). This name was borne by the Mother of Christ.

Let’s see what the Bible says and what general sources say.

1 – The Hebrew name “Miryam”

The meaning of the Hebrew „Miriam” is uncertain. Several hypotheses have been proposed.

1. „Bitterness” (from the root מרר – marar, „to be bitter”);

2. „Rebellion” (from the root מרה – marah, „to be unruly”);

3. „Beloved” (from the Egyptian root mr – „to love”).

The name Miriam is traditionally understood as „bitter” or „rebellious,” although it can also mean „beloved” or „longing for a child.”

At the time the Septuagint was translated, the Hebrew text contained only consonants (M-R-Y-M). Vowels (i.e., „i” or „a”) were added only by the Masoretes several hundred years later. Hence, we have difficulties with this name.

The name מִרְיָם (Miryam / Miriam) can be written as follows:

• מִ (mi) – consonant „m” with „i”,

• רְ (r) – „r”,

• יָ (ya) – „y” + „a”,

• ם (m) – “m” at the end.

Pronunciation: Mir-yam.The Greek written form is: Μαριάμ (Mariam).

2 – Greek form Mariam

In the New Testament, the most important figure to bear this name is the Mother of Christ. Verses featuring her include both the form Μαριάμ (Mariam) – close to the Hebrew sound – and Μαρία (Maria) – which follows the normal Greek inflection.

Here are the verses in which the name „Mother of Christ” appears. Based on these, we can check the Greek inflection of this name:

“Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Marias (G3137, genitive), of whom was born Yeshu, who is called Christ” – Matthew 1:16.

“The birth of Yeshu Christ was like this: when His mother, Marias (G3137, genitive), was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child by the Holy Spirit” – Matthew 1:18.

„And when they had entered into the house, they saw the child with Marias (G3137, genitive), His mother. And they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” – Matthew 2:11.

„Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mariam (G3137, indeclinable), and aren’t His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas/Judah?” – Matthew 13:55.

„Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Marias (G3137, genitive), and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him” – Mark 6:3.

„to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mariam (G3137, indeclinable)” – Luke 1:27.

“Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mariam (G3137, indeclinable), for you have found favor with God.’” – Luke 1:30.

“Then Mariam (G3137, indeclinable) said to the angel, How shall this be, since I have no husband?” – Luke 1:34.

“To be registered with Mariam (G3137, indeclinable), his betrothed wife, who was with child” – Luke 2:5.

“So they came quickly and found Mariam (G3137, indeclinable) and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger” – Luke 2:16.

“But Mariam (G3137, unchangeable) kept all these words, pondering them in her heart” – Luke 2:19.

“And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mariam (G3137, unchangeable), His mother, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be opposed.” – Luke 2:34.

In the above verses, we can check how the name of Christ’s mother was changed:

Case	Greek Form	Transliteration	Verses with the name
Nominativus (Denominator)	Μαρία	Maria	— (no mention of Yeshu’s mother in the NT)
Genitivus (Genitive)	Μαρία-ς	Maria-s	Mt 1:16; Mt 1:18; Mt 2:11; Mark 6:3
Dativus (Viewfinder)	Μαρίᾳ	Maria	— (no mention of Yeshu’s mother in the NT)
Accusativus (Accusative)	Μαρία-ν	Maria-n	— (no mention of Yeshu’s mother in the NT)
Vocativus (Vocative)	Μαρία	Maria	— (no mention of Yeshu’s mother in the NT)
Indeclinable form	Μαριά-μ	Maria-m	Mt 13:55, Lk 1:27, 1:30, 1:31, 2:5, 2:16, 2:19, 2:34

3 – Maria or Mariam?

What arguments do we have for the name: Maria?

In the New Testament, there are four forms of this name:

• Μαριά-μ (Mariam) – taken from the Hebrew.

• Μαρία-ς (Marias) – with the ending „s” added.

• Μαρία-ν (Marian) – with the ending „n” added.

• Μαρία (Maria) – appears as the basic form of the name.

From this table, we can conclude that the basic form of the name is Maria. It is to this form that the endings -s, -m, and -n were added.

What arguments do we have for the name Mariam?

The actual order of origin of the names:

1. The original is „Miryam” (מִרְיָם) – the Hebrew name of Moses’ sister.

2. Translated into Greek as „Mariam” (Μαριάμ) – closest to the original.

3. Subsequently simplified in Greek to „Maria” (Μαρία).

4. „Marias” (Μαρίας) is a grammatical form (genitive of „Maria”), not a separate name.

Why is „Maria” not the basic form?

According to the Hebrew interpretation, „Maria” arose as a simplified version of „Mariam” – not the other way around.

Examples of such simplifications/diminutives:

• Elisabeth → Lisa.

• Katherine → Kate.
• Alexander → Alex.
• Miryam → Mariam → Maria.
Both forms appear in the New Testament – Mariam and Maria:

Form	Language	Function	Note
Miryam	Hebrew	original	the name of Moses’ sister
Mariam	Greek	Transliteration from Hebrew	approximate sound
Maria	Greek / Latin	simplification or change of name	Greek form, then Latin
Marias	Greek	genitive	grammatical case of „Maria”

Conclusions

We have at least three possibilities for examining the name of Christ’s Mother.

1 – The first is the declension of the name, meaning that the endings Maria-m, Maria-s, Maria-n were added to the basic form Maria. In this case, Christ’s mother’s name was Maria.

2 – The second possibility is Mariam, which comes directly from the Hebrew: Miriam. The word Maria originated from the word Mariam, so we have: Miryam → Mariam → Maria. Mariam is older than Maria. In this case, Christ’s mother’s name was Mariam.

3 – The third possibility is Miriam. They could have written it in Greek as Mariam, but read it according to the Hebrew original: Miriam.

In fact, we don’t know what Christ’s mother was called. The Greek proves it to be: Maria. This form was supplemented with a Greek declension, meaning Greek endings. Hebrew analyses indicate that the name was: Mariam. Mariam is also included in the Greek declension of the name. And this name seems most likely.

What do we know for sure?

Neither the apostles nor Christ praised Christ’s mother. The apostles did not pray to her, and no one made sculptures or paintings of her. During the apostles’ time, there was no deity called „Mother of God” or any other declension of this name. Mariam or Mary/Maria was a noble woman. She was chosen for a noble role. She deserves respect, but prayers to her are forbidden.

The cult of the Virgin Mary arose centuries after the apostles. It is a human invention. Neither Christ nor the apostles prayed to the „Virgin Mary.” The Bible informs us that one must not pray to or through images of the „Virgin Mary.” This cult is an invention added to the beliefs of various religions. The only intermediary between God and humanity is Christ. No one else:

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Yeshu” – 1 Timothy 2:5.

„Mary worship” or „worship of the Virgin Mary” was added by man to Christ’s teachings. And the Bible clearly informs us that this is not permitted. Christ passed on one principle of faith to the apostles:

“Beloved, since I am very eager for your common salvation, I felt compelled to write to you, exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” – Jude 1:3.

This phrase is very interesting: ἅπαξ παραδοθείσῃ πίστει. It means: