With how little Square Enix has revealed about Final Fantasy 16, fans have managed to tear down every trailer, every character, and every detail, trying to determine how everyone and everything in the FF16 world of Valisthea come together. Of course, the central figures are the main character Clive, his little brother Joshua, and their confidant (basically sister), Jill.
Long before it was confirmed, many speculated that Final Fantasy 16's Clive was the Dominant of the Dark Eikon Ifrit, that Jill could perhaps be a traitor and/or a dominant of Shiva, and that Joshua dies early on in the game. That was seemingly made apparent in the first trailer, and Joshua's absence in subsequent trailers support this even further. However, names are important, and Joshua's name could suggest that his death in Final Fantasy 16 is only temporary.
Final Fantasy 16: Joshua's Etymology and Characterization
Joshua's death seems to be a given at this point, whatever it may mean for the story. It seems that the Grand Duchy of Rosaria is attacked, that Joshua is attacked, and that somehow Clive summons the Dark Eikon, Ifrit. Ifrit ends up battling Phoenix, and perhaps beyond his control, it seems Ifrit kills Phoenix, resembling Clive killing Joshua. There are other ways to interpret it, but Joshua seems to die. However, characters coming back from death in a franchise like Final Fantasy is not unheard of. The fact that he is the Dominant of Phoenix, an Eikon based on resurrection, makes this likely, but perhaps the strongest indication of his return is in his name.
As many may know, Joshua is the English version of Yeshua in Hebrew, and Jesus is a Greek derivative of Yeshua. In other words, Joshua's name comes from Jesus, and as detailed in the New Testament, Jesus' resurrection takes place after 3 days. Final Fantasy 16's story is split into three parts, taking place over several years, so Joshua's resurrection is likely not that quick. But based on this name connection and the association with Phoenix, it seems to be a safe bet.
To further cement this, it's worth noting how much of Joshua's character seems to be based on characteristics from Jesus. Jesus was a rebel and firebrand, but also wise and caring and humble. He healed and cared for those around him. Joshua's humility is evident in his character biography, and in the first Final Fantasy 16 trailer, he can be seen using his power to heal someone. It stands to reason that Joshua is also wise beyond his years, though obviously fans will need to see more before this judgment call can be made. Nonetheless, it'll be interesting to see how much Square Enix emphasizes the power of Joshua's name in Final Fantasy 16.
Final Fantasy 16 is in development for PS5.
