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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Hebrew; Hebrewess
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hē´broo, hē´broo-es (עברי, ‛ibhrı̄, feminine עבריּה, ‛ibhrı̄yaÌ„h; ἙβÏαῖος, HebraıÌos): The earliest name for Abraham () and his descendants (Joseph, , ; ; ; ; Israelites in Egypt, ; , , ; ; in laws, ; ; in history, , ; , , etc.; later, , “Hebrewess,†; ; in the New Testament, ; ; ). The etymology of the word is disputed. It may be derived from Eber (, , , etc.), or, as some think, from the verb עבר, ‛aÌ„bhar, “to cross over†(people from across the Euphrates; compare ). A connection is sought by some with the apri or epri of the Egyptian monuments, and again with the Habiri of the Tell el-Amarna Letters. In , the “Hebrews†are contrasted with “Hellenists,†or Greek-speaking Jews. By the “Hebrew†tongue in the New Testament (HebraistıÌ, ; , , ; ) is meant ARAMAIC (which see), but also in ; , Hebrew proper.