Who is considered the first Jew?

Origins of the Term “Jew”

The term “Jew” is closely linked to “Judah” (Hebrew: Yehudah). Historically, “Jew” eventually came to refer to any descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, particularly after the kingdom of Judah became the most prominent surviving monarchy of the Israelites (cf. 2 Kings 16:6; 25:25). Yet long before the etymology took shape, the foundations of the Jewish people were laid through a pivotal covenant with one man.

Abraham as the Father of the Jewish Nation

In discussions of who is the “first Jew,” Abraham stands preeminent. Though the label “Jew” appears later in Scripture, Abraham is identified as the founder of the family and nation that would eventually be called “the Jews.” Genesis 12 narrates a decisive moment:

• “Then the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country…to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation…’” (Genesis 12:1–2).

This promise—often described as the Abrahamic Covenant—established a perpetual relationship. God promised that Abraham’s descendants would become a distinct people group, inherit a particular land, and serve as a source of blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:3).

Covenant of Circumcision

The concept of a “first Jew” is inseparable from the covenant sign of circumcision, instituted in Genesis 17. God spoke of a mark that would distinguish Abraham’s descendants:

• “This is My covenant…Every male among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis 17:10).

While Abraham’s grandson Jacob would later be renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28), it was the faith and obedience of Abraham in receiving this covenant that became the root of the Jewish identity. He is recognized as the progenitor of the covenant people and is often referred to as “the father of us all” in New Testament discourse (Romans 4:16).

Biblical References and Theological Emphasis

1. Genesis 12:1–9: Focuses on the initial call to Abram and the establishment of the promise.

2. Genesis 17:1–22: Describes the covenant of circumcision and Abram’s name change to Abraham (“father of many”).

3. Romans 4:13–25: Highlights Abraham’s faith as the foundation of the covenant, underscoring that he is the spiritual father of all who believe.

This united testimony across Old and New Testaments underscores Abraham as the key figure through whom the Jewish people and, ultimately, the Messiah would come.

Etymology, Judah, and the Wider Connection

Strictly from a linguistic standpoint, one could argue that the earliest person actually called a “Jew” would be someone from the tribe of Judah (later the kingdom of Judah). Judah himself, a son of Jacob, bore the name that would become “Jew.” However, because biblical tradition traces the covenant and chosen-people identity to Abraham, the vast majority of theological and historical sources identify Abraham as the first Jew in a covenantal sense.

Historical and Archaeological Corroboration

Archaeological findings such as the Nuzi and Mari tablets (20th–18th centuries BC) provide details on customs (marriage practices, inheritance rules) that align with the Genesis narratives describing life in the patriarchal era. While these tablets do not name Abraham directly, they shed light on the plausibility of the cultural context recorded in Scripture. In modern times, the Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC–1st century AD) preserve extensive portions of Genesis, verifying the remarkable consistency of the patriarchal account throughout centuries of transmission.

Relationship to the Broader Biblical Timeline

Following a conservative biblical timeline akin to Ussher’s dating, Abraham is placed roughly in the early second millennium BC. From a genealogical standpoint (Genesis 5, 10, and 11) through Shem’s lineage, the Scriptures place Abraham as approximately the twentieth generation after Adam. Thus, long before “Jew” became a tribal or national label, Abraham functions—even chronologically—as the pivotal starting point of a bloodline selected by God.

Summation and Conclusion

In summary, while the term “Jew” etymologically derives from Judah, the broader consensus—both in Jewish tradition and throughout Christian theological study—identifies Abraham as the first Jew. He stands as the foundational figure with whom God established a unique covenant, a sign of belonging (circumcision), and the promise of a people set apart. Through Abraham, this nation would ultimately bring forth the Messiah, in fulfillment of God’s plan for redemption.

Abraham’s position as the first Jew is thus understood in light of covenant, promise, and the consistent testimony of Scripture, connecting the earliest chapters of Genesis to the later historical development of the Jewish people and their ongoing identity rooted in the faith of their founding ancestor.