Here's why:
* Aramaic Alphabet: The Aramaic alphabet, like other Semitic alphabets, did not originally include the letter "J." The letter "J" is a relatively recent addition to the alphabet, developed in the Middle Ages.
* Pronunciation: The sound represented by "J" in English was often represented by other letters in Aramaic, such as "Y" or "H."
* Hebrew Influence: The Hebrew alphabet, closely related to Aramaic, also lacked a "J." The letter "Yod" (י) was used to represent the sound similar to "Y" or "J."
Example:
* The name "Jesus" in Aramaic was likely written as "Yeshua" (ישוע). The "Y" sound in "Yeshua" is close to the "J" sound in "Jesus."
While the letter "J" wasn't present in Aramaic at the time of Jesus, it's important to note that:
* Regional Variations: There were regional variations in Aramaic, and some dialects might have had specific sounds closer to a "J" that were represented by other letters.
* Modern Transliteration: When translating ancient Aramaic texts into English, the letter "J" is often used to represent the sound that was closest to it in Aramaic.
Therefore, although the letter "J" wasn't part of the Aramaic alphabet during Jesus' time, the sound it represents was likely present and expressed through other letters.