"Yashua," or  "Yahshua" does not represent any Hebrew word in the Hebrew Bible.  Rather it is the English word "Joshua" with the "J" changed back to the "Y."  The reasoning behind this is that since his name means "Yahweh Saves," then the short form of Yahweh's name "Yah" should be vocalized in the name.  However, it is well known to Hebrew scholars that vowels undergo predictable changes when new words are formed.  For example, the Israelite king "Jehu," is pronounced "Yayhu" in Hebrew.  It means "Yahweh [is] He."  It would be contrary to the received tradition to call him Yahu. Yashua could be a legitimate Hebrew word, but it is unattested in Biblical Hebrew.  Back.