Lexical Summary Hebraios: Hebrews, Hebrew of Hebrews Original Word: Ἑβραῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew. From Eber; a Hebr?An (i.e. Hebrew) or Jew -- Hebrew. see GREEK Eber NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Eber Definition a Hebrew or Jew NASB Translation Hebrew of Hebrews (1), Hebrews (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1445: ἙβραῖοςἙβραῖος (WH Ἐβραῖος, see their Introductory § 408), ἑβραιου, ὁ, a Hebrew (עִבְרִי a name first given to Abraham, Genesis 14:13, afterward transferred to his posterity descended from Isaac and Jacob; by it in the O. T. the Israelites are both distinguished from and designated by foreigners, as afterward by Pausanias, Plutarch, others. The name is now generally derived from עֵבֶר for הַנָּהָר עֵבֶר, i. e. of the region beyond the Euphrates, whence עִבְרִי equivalent to one who comes from the region beyond the Euphrates; Genesis 14:13 the Sept. ὁ περάτης. Cf. Gesenius, Gesch. d. hebr. Sprache u. Schrift, p. 11f; Thesaurus, ii., p. 987; Knobel, Volkertafel der Genesis, p. 176ff; Bleek, Einl. in d. A. T. edition 1, p. 73f. (English translation, i. 76f); (B. D. under the word 1. In the N. T. anyone of the Jewish or Israelitish nation: 2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:5. (In this sense Euseb. h. e. 2, 4, 3 calls Philo the Alexandrian Jew, Ἑβραῖος, although his education was Greek, and he had little (if any) knowledge even of the Hebrew language; and in Praep. evang. 8, 8, 34 he applies the same word to Aristobulus, who was both an Alexandrian, and a Greek-speaking Jew.) 2. In a narrower sense those are called Ἑβραῖοί, who lived in Palestine and used the language of the country, i. e. Chaldee; from whom are distinguished οἱ ἑλληνισται, which see That name adhered to them even after they had gone over to Christianity: Acts 6:1. (Philo in his de conf. lingg. § 26 makes a contrast between Ἑβραῖοί and ἡμεῖς; and in his de congr. erud. grat. § 8 he calls Greek ἡ ἡμετέρα διάλεκτος. Hence, in this sense he does not reckon himself as a Hebrew.) 3. All Jewish Christians, whether they spoke Aramaic or Greek, equivalent to πιστοί ἐξ Ἑβραίων; so in the heading of the Epistle to the Hebrews; called by Eusebius, h. e. 3, 4, 2 οἱ ἐξ Ἑβραίων ὄντες. (Cf. K. Wieseler, Unters. u. d. Hebraerbrief, 2te Halfte. Kiel, 1861, pp. 25-30.) The term rendered by Strong’s 1445 designates a Jew whose mother tongue is Hebrew (or Aramaic) and who identifies with the ancestral customs of Israel. In the first-century milieu it functions as an ethnic-linguistic label that contrasts with “Hellenist” (Greek-speaking Jew) rather than with “Gentile.” Thus, while every Ἰουδαῖος (Jew) may be an Israelite, only some Jews are specifically Ἑβραῖοι, the segment that preserved the Hebrew Scriptures, synagogue liturgy, and Judean patterns of life within the land and in traditionalist enclaves of the Diaspora. Occurrences in the New Testament • Philippians 3:5 – Paul calls himself “a Hebrew of Hebrews.” Historical Context and Ethnic Identity By the first century, Jewish society was bifurcated along linguistic lines. Hebraioi preserved Hebrew (or its Aramaic derivative) and Judaic customs; Hellenistai adopted Greek as their primary language and were more conversant with Greco-Roman culture. The distinction did not imply differing degrees of covenant membership but did generate social tension, as seen in Acts 6:1. The label “Hebrew” therefore signaled rootedness in the mother tongue of Scripture, use of the Hebrew (Masoretic) text in synagogue readings, and loyalty to Jerusalem-centered worship. Theological Significance in Pauline Self-Description In Philippians 3:5 Paul arrays his impeccable Jewish credentials—circumcised on the eighth day, of Israel, of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. He asserts maximal covenant legitimacy, only to declare moments later, “But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7). The word Ἑβραῖος, then, functions in his argument as the pinnacle of ethnic religiosity that is nevertheless subordinate to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Messiah. Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 11:22 Paul repels opponents who boast in Jewish pedigree: “Are they Hebrews? So am I.” The term anchors his apostolic authority in historic Israel while showing that authentic ministry hinges not on ethnicity but on sacrificial service and revelation. Implications for Early Church Demographics and Ministry Acts 6:1 records that “the Hellenistic Jews began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food”. The church was still entirely Jewish, yet linguistic and cultural differences threatened unity. The apostles responded by appointing Spirit-filled servants (traditionally viewed as the prototype of the diaconate), ensuring equitable care. Thus Strong’s 1445 stands at the inception of structured church ministry, illustrating how the gospel honors cultural uniqueness while demanding impartial love. Missional Insight The presence of both Hebrews and Hellenists within the covenant people prepared the church for its eventual outreach to Gentiles. Those fluent in Hebrew safeguarded textual fidelity; those versed in Greek provided a bridge to the wider world. Recognizing the value of each constituency, the early believers modeled a fellowship that transcended cultural divides without erasing them—an enduring lesson for contemporary congregations navigating linguistic and ethnic diversity. Summary Strong’s 1445 encapsulates more than an ethnic label; it represents a stream of Jewish tradition that preserved the language of Moses, furnished the apostolic church with scriptural expertise, and, in Paul’s testimony, yielded its highest privileges to the supremacy of Christ. Its four New Testament occurrences trace a trajectory from ethnic confidence to Christ-centered humility and from intra-Jewish tension to Spirit-led service, underscoring the harmony and mission God intends for His people. Englishman's Concordance Acts 6:1 Adj-AMPGRK: πρὸς τοὺς Ἐβραίους ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο NAS: [Jews] against the [native] Hebrews, because KJV: against the Hebrews, because INT: against the Hebrews because were overlooked 2 Corinthians 11:22 Adj-NMP Philippians 3:5 Adj-NMS Philippians 3:5 Adj-GMP Strong's Greek 1445 |
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