Hebrews עִבְרִי
An ethnic group descended from Abraham.
Who is Hebrews in the Bible?
The Hebrews were an ethnic and religious group descended from Abraham, also called Israelites or Jews. The term first appears in Genesis 14:13 in reference to Abraham himself, and is then applied throughout the Old Testament to his descendants. The Hebrews were distinct from surrounding nations like the Egyptians (Genesis 43:32, Exodus 1:15-16), and God identified Himself specifically as "the God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18, 5:3, 7:16). Though the Hebrews experienced periods of slavery and oppression, particularly in Egypt, God established a covenant with them and gave them laws and commandments (Exodus 21:2, Deuteronomy 15:12). Their significance in biblical history centers on their role as God's chosen people, through whom He would reveal His character and purpose to the world.
Biography
The Hebrews were an ethnic group descended from Abraham, also known as Israelites or Jews. The term "Hebrew" first appears in the Bible in reference to Abraham (Gen.14.13) and is later used to refer to his descendants, the Israelites, throughout the Old Testament. The Hebrews were distinct from the Egyptians (Gen.43.32; Exo.1.15,16,19) and other nations, and they were often oppressed or enslaved (Exo.1.11-14; 5.3). God identified Himself as the God of the Hebrews (Exo.3.18; 5.3; 7.16; 9.1,13; 10.3) and gave them laws and commandments to follow (Exo.21.2; Deu.15.12). The Hebrews were also known for their language, Hebrew (Luk.23.38; Act.6.1), and their religious practices. In the New Testament, the term "Hebrew" is used to refer to Jewish Christians who spoke Hebrew or Aramaic (Act.6.1) and to emphasize the Jewish heritage of some early Christians (2Co.11.22; Php.3.5).
In Scripture
10 biblical books ; 7 with study contentGenesis 5 verses
- Genesis 14:13
"Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 39:14
"she called her household servants. “Look,” she said, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us. He came to me so he could sleep with me, but I screamed as loud as I could."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 39:17
"Then she told him the same story: “The Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me,"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 40:15
"For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing for which they should have put me in this dungeon.”"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 41:12
"Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us individually."
Study Genesis →
Exodus 5 verses
- Exodus 1:15
"Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:16
"“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 1:19
"The midwives answered Pharaoh, “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife arrives.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 2:6
"When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 2:7
"Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”"
Study Exodus →
Deuteronomy 1 verse
- Deuteronomy 15:12
"If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free."
Study Deuteronomy →
1 Samuel 5 verses
- 1 Samuel 4:6
"On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,"
- 1 Samuel 4:9
"Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”"
- 1 Samuel 13:3
"Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”"
- 1 Samuel 13:7
"Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan into the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, remained at Gilgal, and all his troops were quaking in fear."
- 1 Samuel 13:19
"And no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “The Hebrews must not be allowed to make swords or spears.”"
Jeremiah 2 verses
- Jeremiah 34:9
"that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 34:14
"Every seventh year, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself to you. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or incline their ear."
Study Jeremiah →
Jonah 1 verse
- Jonah 1:9
"“I am a Hebrew,” replied Jonah. “I worship the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Hebrew | עִבְרִי | ʿibĕriy | an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber |
| Greek | Greek | Ἑβραῖος | Hebraîos | a Hebræan (i.e. Hebrew) or Jew |