Hebrew
Hebrew is both a term that refers to a people and a language, closely associated with the Jewish tradition and history. The Hebrews are believed to be descendants of the patriarch Abraham, with their lineage traced through Isaac and Jacob, the latter of whom was renamed Israel. This cultural and religious identity is deeply interwoven with the narratives found in the Hebrew Bible, which recounts the ancient history of these people, including their experiences in Egypt and their eventual settlement in the land of Israel.
The Hebrew language, known as Ivrit, is an ancient tongue that has evolved over millennia and is currently the official language of the State of Israel, where it is spoken by over five million people. Globally, it is also spoken by more than two million individuals, including many Arab Israelis and Palestinians. The origins of the Hebrew language, like the history of the Hebrew people themselves, are shrouded in mystery and myth, with some traditions asserting that it was the original language of humanity.
Historically, the term "Hebrew" has been used interchangeably with "Israelite" and "Jew," reflecting the complex relationships and identities that have developed over centuries. The ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah played significant roles in the formation of this identity, particularly after the conquests that led to periods of captivity and the eventual restoration of the Jewish people to their homeland, reinforcing their collective identity.
Hebrew
The exact origins of the Hebrew people are unknown. It is believed that the word Hebrew was first used to identify the group of people who were decedents of the Jews. Generally, Hebrew is used to describe the people who descended from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible and the first book of the Hebrew Bible.
The Hebrew Bible tells the history of the Jewish people in the ancient world. Considered the basis of Judaism, the religion practiced by the Hebrews, it begins with a description of the world’s creation, describes the trials of the Jewish people in Egypt, and then narrates their struggles in Israel. The first five books of the Hebrew Bible are known as the Torah, and the entire Hebrew Bible is known as the Tanach.
Hebrew is the language of the ancient Hebrews, and it is the official language of the State of Israel, where more than five million people speak the language. In addition, more than two million people worldwide—mostly Arab Israelis and Palestinians—speak Hebrew.
Origins of the Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews
Many variations and stories exist regarding the Hebrew people. The exact origins of the Hebrews are unclear, and Hebrew history is entwined with the mythos of Jewish and Christian scripture. The term Hebrew is sometimes used interchangeably with Israelite and Jew.
According to the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible and Christian Bible, God instructed Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, to build an ark to prepare for the flooding of the world by God to wipe out the wickedness and sin of the world. Those on the ark, along with the numerous pairs of animals Noah was instructed to take along, were the only survivors in the world after the waters receded.
According to the scripture, the Hebrews descended from Shem, Noah’s son, through Eber (sometimes spelled as Ever), Shem’s great-grandson and a distant ancestor of Abram (who came to be known as Abraham) through a line of descendants from Eber’s son, Peleg. Abraham is regarded as the first Hebrew. He became an important figure to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. God made a covenant with Abraham and requested that he leave Ur for Canaan (later Palestine). God promised Abraham that his offspring would later inherit the world.
The word Hebrew (Ivri in the Hebrew language) is said to have derived from the name Eber. In another variation, the word Hebrew derived from the word eyver, which means "on the other side" or "to cross over." This is believed to refer to Abraham coming from the other side of the Euphrates River as part of his journey to Canaan, as well as Abraham’s moral and spiritual separation from other nations.
Abraham’s grandson through Isaac, Jacob, had his name changed to Israel, and the descendants through Isaac and Jacob (Israel), became known as Israelites. They lived in a nation known as the kingdom of Israel. When Israel was divided, the northern area kept the name Israel, and the southern area became known as the kingdom of Judah after Judah, the son of Jacob (Israel). Those who lived in Judah became known as Jews. Both Israel and Judah were taken captive by others; the Assyrians invaded Israel, and the Babylonians took Judah. When the people eventually regained their lands, they designated the entire area Israel, and they became known as Jews. The term Jew is used to encompass all physical and spiritual descendants and families of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel).
Hebrew as a Language
The Hebrew language is the language of the ancient Hebrew people. The language’s origins, much like the history of the Hebrew people, are unclear. In Jewish folklore, Hebrew was the original language of humankind and was given to Adam by God in the Garden of Eden.
All of humanity was united by the language until the construction of the Tower of Babel, an event described in the Book of Genesis. The Tower of Babel was intended to serve as a bridge between Earth and Heaven. However, to thwart further sin of its creators, God is said to have created a multitude of languages so that the tower’s builders could not communicate with one another, triggering the eventual abandonment of the project.
According to the Tanach and the Old Testament, ancient Israelite tribes conquered the land of Canaan, claiming it as their "promised land." These Israelites are believed to have spoken Hebrew, and while historians have been unable to pinpoint the exact date of the Canaan conquest, it is generally thought to have taken place between 1400 BCE and 1190 BCE. This means that the spoken Hebrew language most likely first evolved prior to this time.
Bibliography
Larue, Gerald A. "Ancient Jewish History: Who Were the Hebrews?" Jewish Virtual Library, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/hebrews.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
Rich, Tracey R. "Who Is a Jew?" Judaism 101, 2011, www.jewfaq.org/whoisjew.htm. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
Yang, Allie. "Hebrew Wasn't Spoken for 2,000 Years. Here's How It Was Revived." National Geographic, 11 May 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/hebrew-wasnt-spoken-for-2000-years-heres-how-it-was-revived. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.