HEBREW; HEBREWESS

he'-broo, he'-broo-es (`ibhri, feminine `ibhriyah; Hebraios): The earliest name for Abraham (Genesis 14:13) and his descendants (Joseph, Genesis 39:14, 17; Genesis 40:15; Genesis 41:12; Genesis 43:32; Israelites in Egypt, Exodus 1:15; Exodus 2:6, 11, 13; 3:18; in laws, Exodus 21:2 Deuteronomy 15:12; in history, 1 Samuel 4:6, 9; 1 Samuel 13:7, 19, etc.; later, Jeremiah 34:9, "Hebrewess," 34:14; Jonah 1:9; in the New Testament, Acts 6:1 2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:5). The etymology of the word is disputed. It may be derived from Eber (Genesis 10:21, 24, 25, etc.), or, as some think, from the verb `abhar, "to cross over" (people from across the Euphrates; compare Joshua 24:2). A connection is sought by some with the apri or epri of the Egyptian monuments, and again with the Habiri of the Tell el-Amarna Letters. In Acts 6:1, the "Hebrews" are contrasted with "Hellenists," or Greek-speaking Jews. By the "Hebrew" tongue in the New Testament (Hebraisti, John 5:2; John 19:13, 17, 20; John 20:16) is meant ARAMAIC (which see), but also in Revelation 9:11; Revelation 16:16, Hebrew proper.

James Orr