Lexical Definition

‎עִבְרִי‎ ʻIbrîy (ib-ree') Hebrew ^N:N--PG
patronymic from ‎עֵבֵר‎

Hebrew(-ess, woman).

• § Hebrew = "one from beyond"
• an Eberite (i.e. Hebrew) or descendant of Eber

n pr
1) a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites
adj
2) a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites

Extended Information

• Someone descended from Heber (חֶבֶר), first mentioned at Gen.14.13
• Also named: Hebraios (Ἑβραῖος "Hebrew" Ἑβραῖος)
• n pr
• adj

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎עִבְרִי‎ adjective and name of a people Hebrew, either
a. put into the mouth of foreigners (Egyptian and Philistine), or
b. used to distinguish Israel from foreigners (= one from beyond, from the other side, i.e. probably (in Hebrew tradition) from beyond the Euphrates (compare Josh 24:2; Josh 24:3 E), but possibly in fact (if name given in Cannan) from beyond the Jordan; compare Ges^{«GKC:2b»§ 2b} Sta^{§ 1 b} Kö^{i. 18 ff.} We^{Israel u. Jüd. Geschichte. 7} Kau^{'Eber' and 'Hebräer'} in Ri^{HWB 332; 600}. — On connection of ‎׳‎‎ע‎ (in wide sense) with –abiri (Tel Amarna) see Wkl^{Geschichte. Israel 17 ff.; Semitic Studies in Mem. of Kohut, 605 ff.} EMey^{Aegyptica [Ebers], 75} compare Glaser^{MVG 1897, 255 ff.} Kö^{Exp. Times xi. 238}; opposed to Jastr^{JBL xi (1892), 118 ff.} Say^{Monuments 188; 333} WMM^As.u.Eur.396): — masculine singular ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Gen 39:14 +; feminine singular ‎עִבְרִיָּה‎ Deut 15:12; Jer 34:9 masculine plural ‎עִבְרִים‎ Gen 43:32 +, ‎עִבְרִיִּים‎ Exod 3:18 feminine plural ‎עִבְרִיֹּת‎ Exod 1:15 + 2 t., ‎וֺת‎- Exod 1:16 word not in P; —

1. adjective a. ‎אִישׁ עִבְרִי‎ Gen 39:14 compare vGen 39:17 (both J), Gen 41:12 (E).
b. ‎אִישׁ בְִרִי‎ Exod 2:11 compare vExod 2:13; Exod 21:2 (all E), Deut 15:12; Jer 34:9; Jer 34:14 feminine Deut 15:12; Jer 34:9.

2. noun a. b. Exod 1:16; Exod 1:19; Exod 2:17 (all feminine) Exod 2:6 (all E), 1Sam 4:6; 1Sam 4:9; 1Sam 13:19; 1Sam 14:11; 1Sam 29:3.
b. Gen 40:15; Exod 1:15 (feminine; both E), 1Sam 13:3; 1Sam 14:21; Gen 43:32 (J); especially in ‎אֱלֹהֵי הָעִבְרִים‎ Exod 3:18; Exod 5:3; Exod 7:16; Exod 9:1; Exod 9:13; Exod 10:3 (all J); singular only ‎׳‎‎אַבְרָם הָע‎ Gen 14:13 ‎אָנֹ֑כִי‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Jonah 1:9. — ᵐ5 Ἐβραῖος, Ἐβραία, Gen 14:13 τῷ περάτῃ. — 1Sam 13:7 read probably for ‎׳‎‎וְעִבְרִים וגו‎, ‎וְעָֽבְרוּ‎ ‎מַעְבְּרוֺת הַיַּרְדֵּן‎ (We), or, better, ‎וַיַּעַבְרוּ‎ Dr Kit Löhr; > ‎וְעַם רַב‎ Klo Bu HPS.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Group • An ethnic group descended from Abraham.

People from Heber@Gen.46.17-1Ch(?)

The Hebrews were an ethnic group descended from Abraham, also known as Israelites or Jews. (Gen.14.13; 39.14,17; 40.15; 41.12; 43.32; Exo.1.15,16,19; 2.6,7,11,13; 3.18; 5.3; 7.16; 9.1,13; 10.3; 21.2; Deu.15.12; 1Sa.4.6,9; 13.3,7,19; 14.11,21; 29.3; Jer.34.9,14; Jon.1.9; Luk.23.38; Act.6.1; 2Co.11.22; Php.3.5; Heb.13.25)

• People from Heber חֶבֶר, first mentioned at Gen.14.13;
• referred to as Hebrews עִבְרִי, or Hebrew Ἑβραῖος.

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).

All entries for Hebrews: עִבְרִי ☩ Ἑβραῖος