WHO’S WHO?

By Ben Williams

Excerpted from: Kingdom Bible Studies

Much confusion exists in Christian circles today due largely to a misunderstanding of the  terms  Hebrew, Israelite, Jew and Gentile. In this lesson we will examine the  correct meanings of the  names “Hebrew,” “Israel(ite)” and “Jew” as found in the Scriptures. In the following lesson, we will study the term “Gentile.” We will closely analyze these names to clarify their meanings.

HEBREW

According to Strong’s Concordance the word “Hebrew,” as found in the Old Testament, comes  from the Hebrew  word  lbrity(#5680) which  refers  to “an Eberite or descendant of Eber.” Chapter 10 of Genesis tells us that Eber was a descendant of Shem who was one of Noah’s sons. The word “Hebrew” (Eberite) is a family name: the family or descendants of Eber.

he first place the word “Hebrew” is used in the Old Testament (KingJames Version) is Genesis 14:13. This verse tells us that Abram (later called Abraham) was a Hebrew, meaning that he was of the family of Eber. Thus, any descendant of Abraham  could accurately  be called a Hebrew. Were Isaac, Jacob and Esau Hebrews? Yes, because all three were descendants of Abraham and thus belong to the family of Eber. Were Shem, Noah and Adam Hebrews? No, because all three lived before Eber was born.

By definition, the word “Hebrew” can be traced back to Eber and no further.  Eber was the first Hebrew, contrary to what some people say.

ISRAELITE

Strong’s Concordance tells us that the word Israelite (Israel) in the Old Testament  comes from the Hebrew word Yisrael(#3478) which refers to the “symbolic name of Jacob” and “also of his posterity.” Israel is a family name: the family of descendants of Jacob. The first time we find this word used in the Old Testament (King James Version) is Genesis 32:28 which tells us that Jacob’s name was changed to “Israel.” (See also Genesis 35:10.) The twelve sons of Jacob became known as “Israelites” (also the “children of Israel”), and together  they formed the nation of Israel.

By definition, the terms “Israel” and “Israelite” begin with Jacob and continue from that point. These names did not exist prior to Jacob’s name change. As a result could Adam,  Noah, Shem,  Eber, Abraham,  Isaac and Esau have been Israelites? No, of course not, for none of them were Jacob’s descendants. Yet, to this day, some people erroneously refer to these men as “Israelites.”

On the other  hand,  Joseph,  Moses, Joshua,  David, Solomon, the Old Testament  prophets,  Jesus  and  His apostles were all  “Israelites” because they  were descendants of Jacob. In fact,  many  multitudes of peoples today are Israelites due to their physical descent from the various tribes or sons of Jacob  Israel.

The  terms  “Israel”  and  “Israelite” can  also, in a narrower sense, refer  to the northern ten-tribed kingdom of Israel as opposed to the southern kingdom of Judah. The nation of Israel was split into two separate kingdoms under Rehoboam and Jeroboam. (See I Kings 11 and 12.) Therefore, care must be taken to determine the intended  meaning  of these  terms according  to the overall context within which they are used. “Israel can refer to all twelve tribes or just to the northern ten tribes, depending on the context.

SEMITE

At this point in our study we should examine a word that does not appear in the Bible but is directly related to people mentioned in the Scriptures. This word has been greatly misused and twisted from its original meaning, causing  much  confusion and  turmoil.  This word  is “Semite” from  which comes the term  “semitic,” “semitism” and “anti-semitism.” Let us briefly examine the origin and correct meaning of this beleaguered word.

Webster Dictionary  tells us that the word “Semite” (Shemite)  comes from the Greek word Sem and  the Hebrew word Shem and refers to Noah’s son Shem and his descendants. Any direct descendant of Shem, then, would qualify as a “Semite” by definition.

Shem is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 5:32 as part of Adam’s family record. Chapter 10 of Genesis gives us Noah’s family record with Shem’s descendants identified in verses 21-31. Notice in verse 21 that Shem is called the “father of all the children of Eber. “Verse 24 verifies that Eber was a direct descendant of Shem. We have already established the fact that Eber was the progenitor of the Hebrews. This proves that all Hebrews were Semites along with all the rest of Shem’s descendants.

Biblical and other historical evidence indicates  that Shem was thus the progenitor of the Semitic peoples; the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the early Chaldeans,  the Babylonians, the Hebrews, the Arabs and the Israelites among others. All these people share  a common ancestor in Shem and by definition are Semites, contrary to popular opinion today.

Based on the definition of “Semite,” the term “anti­ Semitism” should logically mean “against, or opposed, to Semites.”  Interestingly  enough,  however,  modern dictionaries and modern  use define this term as having or showing prejudice, discrimination  or dislike against Jews and Jewish  things as if they alone  represent the Semites. By the way, the terms “anti-Semitic” and “anti­ Semitism” do not appear in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary; apparently, this epithet didn’t exist at that time.

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