Joanna
Pronounced jo-AN-uh
- Meaning
- "God is gracious"
- Origin
- Hebrew
Joanna means "God is gracious" in Hebrew — the feminine form of John. She was the wife of Chuza, the steward of King Herod Antipas, making her a woman of significant social standing who risked everything to follow Jesus. Joanna is listed among the women who were healed by Jesus and then followed Him, supporting His ministry out of their own resources. Her position in Herod's court would have given her access to information about the political threats against Jesus. She was also among the women who went to the tomb on Easter morning and found it empty. Joanna's willingness to leave the comfort and security of a royal household to follow an itinerant preacher demonstrates the compelling power of encountering Christ.
Spiritual meaning
Joanna's story shows that encountering God's grace compels us to surrender privilege and comfort. Her faith cost her social standing but gained her a place in the Gospel narrative forever.
Related verses (KJV)
"And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance."
Luke 8:3 (KJV) →"It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles."
Luke 24:10 (KJV) →