Hebrew, Israelite, Jew
What is the origin of these terms?
Who is included?
Who is not included?
The Question
• We often hear – Hebrew, Israelite, and
Jew – used as meaning the same thing.
• We need to know the origin of each of
these terms.
• We need to know who is included in each
term.
• We need to know who is NOT included in
each term.
HEBREW - Origin
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2391 BC – EBER – “Hebrew” from Eber
2357 BC – PELEG
2327 BC – REU
2295 BC – SERUG
2265 BC – NAHOR
2136 BC – TERAH
2166 BC - ABRAHAM
HEBREW - Origin
• 2166 BC – ABRAHAM
– Haran, his brother
– A son of Haran – LOT
– Lot had 2 sons by his daughters
• MOAB – (Moabites)
• BEN AMMI – (Ammonites)
HEBREW - Origin
• 2166 BC – ABRAHAM
• 2080 BC – ISHMAEL is born (Ishmaelites)
• 2066 BC – ISAAC is born
– ESAU – (Edomites)
– JACOB – (Israelites)
• Abraham married Keturah (Genesis 25:1)
– Sons – Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,
Shuah
– NOTE ESP. – MIDIAN (Midianites)
HEBREW - Included
• Included:
– All descendents of Abraham are Hebrews
– Edomites
– Ishmaelites
– Midianites
– Moabites
– Ammonites
– Israelites
HEBREW – Not Included
• Not Included:
• All who are NOT a descendent of
Abraham are NOT part of the Hebrew
nation
• From Noah – all from Ham and Japeth
are not Hebrews
• Canaanites are not Hebrews (from Ham)
The Chart
HEBREW
Israelites (Jacob)
Edomites (Esau)
Ishmaelites (Ishmael)
Midianites (Midian)
Moabites (Moab)
Ammonites (Ben Ammi)
ISRAELITES - Origin
• 2006 BC – JACOB changed to ISRAEL
• And He said, "Your name shall no longer
be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have
struggled with God and with men, and
have prevailed."
Genesis 32:28
ISRAELITES - Origin
• 12 SONS – REUBEN, SIMEON, LEVI,
JUDAH, ISSACHAR, ZEBULUN,
JOSEPH, BENJAMIN, DAN, NAPTHTALI,
GAD, ASHER
• 12 TRIBES = 12 SONS
– Minus Joseph and Levi
– Include Ephraim and Manasseh
ISRAELITES - Included
• All descendents of Jacob (Israel)
• The 12 tribes of the nation of Israel who
inherited a part of the land of Caanan
• And the tribe of Levi (tribe of priests)
• All Israelites are Hebrews (from Abraham)
• But, not all Hebrews are Israelites
The Chart
HEBREW
Edomites
Ishmaelites
Midianites
Moabites
Ammonites
ISRAELITES
12 tribes
in Canaan
JEWS- Origin
• They were known as Israelites through:
– Wilderness wanderings
– Conquer of Palestine
– Joshua’s rule
– Period of the Judges
– Kings – Saul, David, Solomon
JEWS- Origin
• After the reign of Solomon the kingdom
split into two parts
– Northern Kingdom – 10 tribes – Israel
– Southern Kingdom – 2 tribes – Judah
– Judah and Benjamin blended under the name
of Judah
• JEW is a form of the word Judah
JEWS- Included
• The name comes from Judah
• Jews also included the tribe of Benjamin
• It also included those from other tribes
who returned from the captivity to become
part of the re-built nation
• Some from other tribes came back to
Jerusalem following the captivity. They
were accepted as part the Jewish nation.
JEWS- Included
• Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth
day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as
touching the law, a Pharisee;
• Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin
• This means Paul was a Hebrew
• This means Paul was an Israelite
• This means Paul was a Jew
The Chart
HEBREW
Edomites
Ishmaelites
Midianites
Moabites
Ammonites
ISRAELITES
12 tribes
in Canaan
JEWS
Judah and
Benjamin
SUMMARY
• All Jews were also Israelites
• All Israelites were also Hebrews
• All Hebrews were from Abraham
BUT:
• Not all Hebrews are Israelites
• Not all Israelites are Jews