Talk:Hebrew

Easton on "Hebrew"
Here is what Easton has on "Hebrew"

Hebrew

A name applied to the Israelites in Scripture only by one who is a foreigner #Ge 39:14,17 41:12 etc., or by the Israelites when they speak of themselves to foreigners #Ge 40:15 Ex 1:19 or when spoken of an contrasted with other peoples #Ge 43:32 Ex 1:3,7,15 De 15:12

In the New Testament there is the same contrast between Hebrews and foreigners #Ac 6:1 Php 3:5

Derivation.

1. The name is derived, according to some, from Eber #Ge 10:24 the ancestor of Abraham. The Hebrews are "sons of Eber" #Ge 10:21

2. Others trace the name of a Hebrew root-word signifying "to pass over," and hence regard it as meaning "the man who passed over," viz., the Euphrates; or to the Hebrew word meaning "the region" or "country beyond," viz., the land of Chaldea. This latter view is preferred. It is the more probable origin of the designation given to Abraham coming among the Canaanites as a man from beyond the Euphrates #Ge 14:13 3.

A third derivation of the word has been suggested, viz., that it is from the Hebrew word _’ abhar_, "to pass over," whence _’ ebher_, in the sense of a "sojourner" or "passer through" as distinct from a "settler" in the land, and thus applies to the condition of Abraham #Heb 11:13 Strong's Concordance favors the first derivation. Since he used the Scriptures to define the term, I tend to agree with him. The Hebrews were all "sons of Eber" (also written "Heber"). Shem was Eber's grandfather, and thus was "father" to all of his descendants. The Hebrews would include Abraham, but also all his cousins going back to Heber, his 5g grandfather. Though used first of Abraham/Abram, and never referred to anyone outside of his family, the "sons of Heber" include both Pelegites and Joktanites. The latter filled the Sinai Peninsular. Peleg's descendants are not listed except for the one line -- to Terah.

Strictly speaking, a Hebrew is a broad term geneologically. However, if we go with the broadist technical use, #2 above works best. All the folk called Hebrews were foreigners among the people they lived with. They were not from "across the water" but simply from "across the way" or "over there."

I will leave add something about the Hebrew language and take out the reference to "water."

SouthWriter (talk) 19:54, January 19, 2016 (UTC)