This name may have been given to Oshea of the tribe of Ephraim (v. 8) shortly after the children of Israelleft Egypt; otherwise, it is used by anticipation in Ex. 17:9. The name Oshea means “salvation,” and Joshua, and abbreviated form of Jehoshua, “Jehovah is salvation.” Bible names are usually significant (see Rev. 2:13, 17; 3:12; 14:1; 19:12, 13, 16; 21:12, 14; 22:4).