3064. Yehudi

Lexical Summary

Yehudi: Jews, Jew, Jewish

Original Word: יְהוּדִי
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: Yhuwdiy
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-DEE
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-hoo-dee')
KJV: Jew
NASB: Jews, Jew, Jewish, Jews', Judeans
Word Origin: [patronymically from H3063 (יְהוּדָה - Judah)]

1. a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Jew

Patronymically from Yhuwdah; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah) -- Jew.

see HEBREW Yhuwdah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Yehudah
Definition
Jewish
NASB Translation
Jew (10), Jewish (4), Jews (59), Jews' (1), Judeans (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. יְהוּדִּי adjective, of a people Jewish, as substantive a Jew; —

adjective masculine אִישׁ יְהוּדִי Zechariah 8:23; plural אֲנָשִׁים יְהוּדִים Jewish men Jeremiah 43:9; Esther 2:5; .as substantive Jeremiah 34:9; Esther 3:4; הַיְהוּדִי the Jew Esther 5:13; Esther 6:10; Esther 8:7; Esther 9:29,31; Esther 10:3; feminine הַיְּהֻדִיָּה the jewess 1 Chronicles 4:18; plural Jews יְהוּדִים Jeremiah 52:28,30; הַיְּהוּדִים the Jews 2 Kings 16:6; 2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 32:12; Jeremiah 38:19; Jeremiah 40:11,12; Jeremiah 41:3; Jeremiah 44:1; Nehemiah 1:2; Nehemiah 2:16; Nehemiah 3:33; Nehemiah 3:34; Nehemiah 4:6; Nehemiah 5:1,8,17; Nehemiah 6:6; Nehemiah 13:23; Esther 3:6,10,13; Esther 4:3,13,14,16; Esther 6:13; Esther 8:3,5,8,9 (twice in verse); Esther 8:11; Esther 8:16; Esther 8:17 (twice in verse); Esther 9:1 (twice in verse); Esther 9:2,3,5,6,10,12,13,16,19,20,22,23,24 (twice in verse); Esther 9:25; Esther 9:27; Esther 9:28; Esther 9:30; Esther 10:3; הַיְּהוּדִיי֯ם Esther 4:7; Esther 8:1,7,13; Esther 9:15,18

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The term יְהוּדִי occurs approximately seventy-six times across the Old Testament and denotes an individual identified with Judah—first the tribe, then the Southern Kingdom, and eventually the whole covenant community returned from exile. Its usage charts the history of God’s redemptive dealings with His people from the divided monarchy through the Persian period and into the eschatological hope embodied in the line of David.

Historical Development of the Term

1. Tribal Distinction

After the schism under Rehoboam, “Jew” distinguished subjects of the Kingdom of Judah from those of Israel (for example, 2 Kings 16:6). This political label carried the covenantal promise attached to David’s throne.

2. Exilic Consolidation

With the Northern Kingdom dissolved (722 B.C.) and Judah later exiled (586 B.C.), יְהוּדִי became the prevailing self-designation in Babylon. Jeremiah speaks of “the Jews who live in the land of Egypt” (Jeremiah 44:1), showing its early expansion beyond strict territorial borders.

3. Post-Exilic Identity

In Ezra and Nehemiah the term is ethnoreligious, marking those who returned to rebuild the temple and city (Ezra 4:12; Nehemiah 2:16). Their distinctiveness rested in covenant fidelity rather than geography alone.

4. Diaspora Usage

Esther portrays Jews scattered throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 3:6, 8). Here יְהוּדִי expresses solidarity under threat, highlighting divine preservation irrespective of locale.

Covenant Identity and Tribal Affiliation

Judah’s tribal inheritance carried the scepter promise (Genesis 49:10). Thus “Jew” implicitly recalls:

• The Davidic covenant: God’s commitment to an everlasting throne (2 Samuel 7:16).
• Temple centrality: Jerusalem as the locus of worship (Psalm 132:13-14).
• Messianic expectation: the coming Branch of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1).

Even when the Northern tribes faded from view, the name “Jew” preserved Israel’s corporate calling through Judah’s line.

Key Literary Clusters

1. Jeremiah (10 occurrences) – Warns Jews in Egypt against idolatry (Jeremiah 44).
2. Daniel (8 occurrences) – Elevates exilic faithfulness; “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you; they are Jews” (Daniel 3:12).
3. Ezra-Nehemiah (26 occurrences) – Chronicles restoration; “And the elders of the Jews were successful in building” (Ezra 6:14).
4. Esther (55 references to “Jew” or “Jews” across the book; 24 are יְהוּדִי / יְהוּדִים) – Depicts covenant survival; “For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus” (Esther 10:3).

Representative Passages

• 2 Kings 25:25 – “Ishmael son of Nethaniah… struck down Gedaliah… and the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him.”
• Ezra 5:1 – “Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah… prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem.”
• Nehemiah 4:2 – “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it by themselves?”
• Esther 4:14 – “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place.”
• Jeremiah 34:9 – “That everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves—both male and female—so that no one should hold a fellow Jew in bondage.”

Corporate Witness and Mission

Through יְהוּדִי Scripture demonstrates how covenant loyalty outlasts political collapse. Whether in Jerusalem’s ruins or Persia’s courts, Jews function as guardians of revelation (Romans 3:2) and as living evidence that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).

Messianic Connections

The New Testament employs Ἰουδαῖος to translate the same concept, and the genealogy of Matthew 1 traces Jesus through Judah’s royal line. Revelation 5:5 hails Him as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” confirming that Christian faith rests on the promises entrusted to the Jews.

Theological Themes

• Divine Preservation – Haman’s decree in Esther and Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace in Daniel both highlight God’s ability to safeguard His people.
• Covenant Faithfulness – Though judged for unfaithfulness, the Jews’ restoration under Cyrus confirms God’s steadfast love.
• Universal Blessing – Zachariah foresees ten men from every nation grasping “the robe of a Jew” (Zechariah 8:23), signaling the flow of salvation from Jewish roots to the nations.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Preaching – The resilience of the Jews supplies rich illustrations of God’s unbreakable promises.
2. Apologetics – The continuous existence of the Jewish people substantiates biblical prophecy and divine sovereignty.
3. Missions – Gentile believers are “grafted in” (Romans 11), fostering humility toward the natural branches.
4. Worship – Recognizing Jesus as the fulfillment of Judah’s hope fuels gratitude for the heritage preserved through יְהוּדִי.

Conclusion

The term יְהוּדִי weaves together tribal ancestry, national identity, exile endurance, and messianic hope. Tracking its Old Testament occurrences underscores God’s faithfulness to Judah, a faithfulness ultimately realized in Jesus Christ and extended to all who trust in Him.

Forms and Transliterations

בִּיהוּדִ֥י בַּיְּהוּדִ֖ים בַּיְּהוּדִֽים׃ ביהודי ביהודים ביהודים׃ הַ֠יְּהוּדִים הַיְּהוּדִ֑י הַיְּהוּדִ֑ים הַיְּהוּדִ֔י הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיְּהוּדִ֖י הַיְּהוּדִ֖ים הַיְּהוּדִ֗י הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים הַיְּהוּדִ֛ים הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים הַיְּהוּדִ֣ים הַיְּהוּדִ֥ים הַיְּהוּדִ֧ים הַיְּהוּדִ֨ים הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ הַיְּהוּדִי֙ הַיְּהוּדִים֙ הַיְּהוּדִים֩ ׀ הַיְהוּדִ֖ים הַיְּהוּדִ֑ים הַיְּהוּדִ֣ים הַיְּהוּדִ֤ים היהודי היהודים היהודים׃ וְהַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְהַיְּהוּדִים֙ וְהַיְּהוּדִ֣ים וְלַיְּהוּדִ֨ים והיהודים וליהודים יְהוּדִ֔י יְהוּדִ֕ים יְהוּדִ֜י יְהוּדִֽי׃ יְהוּדִֽים׃ יְהוּדָ֔ה יהודה יהודי יהודי׃ יהודים יהודים׃ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים לַיְּהוּדִ֣ים ׀ לַיְּהוּדִים֙ ליהודים baiyehuDim bay·yə·hū·ḏîm bayyəhūḏîm bî·hū·ḏî bihuDi bîhūḏî haiyehuDi haiyehuDim hay·hū·ḏîm hay·yə·hū·ḏî hay·yə·hū·ḏîm hayhuDim hayhūḏîm hayyəhūḏî hayyəhūḏîm laiyehuDim lay·yə·hū·ḏîm layyəhūḏîm vehaiyehuDim velaiyehuDim wə·hay·yə·hū·ḏîm wə·lay·yə·hū·ḏîm wəhayyəhūḏîm wəlayyəhūḏîm yə·hū·ḏāh yə·hū·ḏî yə·hū·ḏîm yehuDah yəhūḏāh yehuDi yəhūḏî yehuDim yəhūḏîm

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 16:6
HEB: וַיְנַשֵּׁ֥ל אֶת־ הַיְהוּדִ֖ים מֵֽאֵיל֑וֹת [וַאֲרַמִּים
NAS: and cleared the Judeans out of Elath
KJV: and drave the Jews from Elath:
INT: Aram and cleared the Judeans of Elath Syrian

2 Kings 25:25
HEB: וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְאֶת־ הַיְּהוּדִים֙ וְאֶת־ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים
NAS: down so that he died along with the Jews and the Chaldeans
KJV: that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees
INT: Gedaliah died the Jews and the Chaldeans who

Nehemiah 1:2
HEB: וָאֶשְׁאָלֵ֞ם עַל־ הַיְּהוּדִ֧ים הַפְּלֵיטָ֛ה אֲשֶֽׁר־
NAS: them concerning the Jews who had escaped
KJV: and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped,
INT: asked concerning the Jews had escaped and

Nehemiah 2:16
HEB: אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֑ה וְלַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְלַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים וְלַחֹרִ֣ים
NAS: told the Jews, the priests,
KJV: told [it] to the Jews, nor to the priests,
INT: I had done the Jews the priests the nobles

Nehemiah 4:1
HEB: וַיַּלְעֵ֖ג עַל־ הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃
NAS: angry and mocked the Jews.
KJV: indignation, and mocked the Jews.
INT: and mocked and the Jews

Nehemiah 4:2
HEB: וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מָ֛ה הַיְּהוּדִ֥ים הָאֲמֵלָלִ֖ים עֹשִׂ֑ים
NAS: are these feeble Jews doing?
KJV: these feeble Jews? will they fortify
INT: and said What Jews feeble do

Nehemiah 4:12
HEB: כַּאֲשֶׁר־ בָּ֣אוּ הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים אֶצְלָ֑ם
NAS: When the Jews who lived near
KJV: And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt
INT: where came the Jews lived near

Nehemiah 5:1
HEB: אֶל־ אֲחֵיהֶ֖ם הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃
NAS: against their Jewish brothers.
KJV: against their brethren the Jews.
INT: against brothers their Jewish

Nehemiah 5:8
HEB: אֶת־ אַחֵ֨ינוּ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַנִּמְכָּרִ֤ים לַגּוֹיִם֙
NAS: have redeemed our Jewish brothers
KJV: our brethren the Jews, which were sold
INT: have redeemed brothers our Jewish were sold to the nations

Nehemiah 5:17
HEB: וְהַיְּהוּדִ֨ים וְהַסְּגָנִ֜ים מֵאָ֧ה
NAS: and fifty Jews and officials,
KJV: and fifty of the Jews and rulers,
INT: Jews and officials hundred

Nehemiah 6:6
HEB: אֹמֵ֔ר אַתָּ֤ה וְהַיְּהוּדִים֙ חֹשְׁבִ֣ים לִמְר֔וֹד
NAS: says, that you and the Jews are planning
KJV: saith [it, that] thou and the Jews think
INT: says you you and the Jews are planning to rebel

Nehemiah 13:23
HEB: רָאִ֤יתִי אֶת־ הַיְּהוּדִים֙ הֹשִׁ֗יבוּ נָשִׁים֙
NAS: saw that the Jews had married
KJV: also saw I Jews [that] had married
INT: those saw the Jews had married women

Esther 2:5
HEB: אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן
NAS: in Susa a Jew whose name
KJV: there was a certain Jew, whose name
INT: A certain A Jew become Susa

Esther 3:4
HEB: אֲשֶׁר־ ה֥וּא יְהוּדִֽי׃
NAS: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
KJV: for he had told them that he [was] a Jew.
INT: after he was a Jew

Esther 3:6
HEB: אֶת־ כָּל־ הַיְּהוּדִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּכָל־
NAS: all the Jews, the people
KJV: to destroy all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom
INT: to destroy all the Jews who the whole

Esther 3:10
HEB: הָאֲגָגִ֖י צֹרֵ֥ר הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃
NAS: the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
KJV: the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
INT: the Agagite the enemy of the Jews

Esther 3:13
HEB: אֶת־ כָּל־ הַ֠יְּהוּדִים מִנַּ֨עַר וְעַד־
NAS: all the Jews, both
KJV: and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young
INT: annihilate all the Jews young against

Esther 4:3
HEB: אֵ֤בֶל גָּדוֹל֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְצ֥וֹם וּבְכִ֖י
NAS: mourning among the Jews, with fasting,
KJV: mourning among the Jews, and fasting,
INT: mourning great the Jews fasting weeping

Esther 4:7
HEB: [בַּיְּהוּדִיִּים כ] (בַּיְּהוּדִ֖ים ק) לְאַבְּדָֽם׃
NAS: for the destruction of the Jews.
KJV: treasuries for the Jews, to destroy
INT: treasuries to the king's Jew the destruction

Esther 4:13
HEB: הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִכָּל־ הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃
NAS: any more than all the Jews.
KJV: house, more than all the Jews.
INT: the king's all the Jews

Esther 4:14
HEB: וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַעֲמ֤וֹד לַיְּהוּדִים֙ מִמָּק֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר
NAS: will arise for the Jews from another
KJV: arise to the Jews from another
INT: and deliverance will arise the Jews place another

Esther 4:16
HEB: אֶת־ כָּל־ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣ים בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן
NAS: all the Jews who are found
KJV: gather together all the Jews that are present
INT: assemble all the Jews are found Susa

Esther 5:13
HEB: אֶת־ מָרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֔י יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר
NAS: Mordecai the Jew sitting
KJV: Mordecai the Jew sitting
INT: see Mordecai the Jew sitting gate

Esther 6:10
HEB: כֵן֙ לְמָרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֔י הַיּוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֣עַר
NAS: for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting
KJV: even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth
INT: so Mordecai the Jew is sitting gate

Esther 6:13
HEB: אִ֣ם מִזֶּ֣רַע הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים מָרְדֳּכַ֞י אֲשֶׁר֩
NAS: to fall, is of Jewish origin,
KJV: [be] of the seed of the Jews, before
INT: If origin Jewish Mordecai whom

76 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3064
76 Occurrences

bay·yə·hū·ḏîm — 2 Occ.
bî·hū·ḏî — 1 Occ.
hay·yə·hū·ḏî — 6 Occ.
hay·yə·hū·ḏîm — 48 Occ.
hay·hū·ḏîm — 1 Occ.
lay·yə·hū·ḏîm — 7 Occ.
wə·hay·yə·hū·ḏîm — 3 Occ.
wə·lay·yə·hū·ḏîm — 1 Occ.
yə·hū·ḏāh — 1 Occ.
yə·hū·ḏî — 3 Occ.
yə·hū·ḏîm — 3 Occ.