Hebrew, Jew, and Israelite? Whats the difference and what is the signifigance of each?

Answer 1

An Israelite is someone who is from Israel, the same way an American is from America. A Hebrew and a Jew are actually just two different words for the same thing- a person who practices Judaism- although the word Hebrew isn't used much anymore.

Answer 2

Hebrew is both language and religion.
Jew is an ethnicity.
Israelite is a nationality.

None of it has any significance. People are people. It's attaching significance to these and other labels that creates conflict and is responsible for the global tragedy currently taking place.


Further Clarification:

"Hebrew"
Part of the problem with "Hebrew" is that Caesar called the Jewish (semite) race the "Hebrew" people, because that is the name of their religion (which is based on the Torah). The name stuck so that the Language, Religion, and Race all had the same name.

"Jew"
A Jew is ethnically a person descended of one of twelve tribes of people who followed the Hebrew tradition (ie Torah) in prehistory.
However, people call themselves "Jew" or "Jewish" because they have "converted" to Judaism. There is a lot of argument about whether it's possible to convert to a system of laws and beliefs that does not recognize people of non-Jewish descent. Christianity allows "gentiles" (non-Jews) to convert to the revised and updated version of Judaism that incorporates Jesus Christ as the Messiah of the Jewish tradition. We call these people Christians.

"Israelite"
An Israelite can have one of three definitions. If you believe that the state (country) now called "Israel" was gifted to the Jews as per their Torah, then every person of Jewish descent and Hebrew faith must be considered an Israelite, regardless of their geographic location or citizenship. The alternative is to view "Israelite" simply as the name of people who are citizens of the country of "Israel". The final definition is a refutation. There are those who do not recognize "Israel" as a country at all (regardless of international precedent, and contrary to all appearances), and who consider "Israelite" to be a label recognizing an "occupying force".

You can take whatever side of that issue you want, just please don't start shooting people over it.

Answer 3

A Hebrew is a Jewish person...the Romans called them that.

Jews are descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob...there is no such thing as conversion to Judaism...you (should) HAVE to be a descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob...otherwise...

An Israelite is a person with a passport that says Israel on it...or you could argue that since God renamed Jacob -> Israel after he wrestled with him, that a real Israelite is also a Jew...

To wedjb (post below):

First off, the Torah is basically the 5 books written by Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers), not the entire old testament.

Second, like I said a real Jewish person is a descendant of the 12 sons of Jacob.

Answer 4

All three terms refer to the same people in different ages.

We were called Hebrews in the Bible before we became a nation. Hebrew comes from the word "Ivri" which means "other side." Abraham moved to the "other side" of the Jordan River.

"Israelite" was the name given to us when we became a nation, during our slavery in Egypt. We were children of Jacob who was renamed Israel.

"Jew" comes from the word "Judah" used to refer to the residents of Judea. After the Assyrians conquered the northern half of Israel and led away the people who are no known as the "Ten Lost Tribes", the remaining Jews lived under the protection of Judea.

We, as the descendants of the state of Judea are now known as "Jews."

Answer 5

I think that they are all the same. An Israelite is someone form the people of Israel, so tactically, a Jew or a Hebrew.

Answer 6

Hebrew is an ancient language used in Israel and Jewish services.

Jews are people who follow Judaism a religious tradition that, as far as values, is very close to Christianity, and presaged it.

Israelites are people who live in Israel.

Answer 7

hebrew is a language
israelite is 30% less calories than an israeli
a jew come from yahud like yahudi or yahidi which means one who comes from yehuda now call judah (4th son of jacob) of from judah an area of israel near jerusalem (yerushalayim)
which IS mentioned in genesis as the spot abraham took isaak as offering to G-d

Answer 8

hebrew is the language spoken by the jewish people. but hebrew can also be considered a race. to me israel does not exist because it is palestine. many jews feel this was as well. (i am not jewish) http://www.nkusa.org/AboutUs/FAQs/protest020702.cfm
there are many people of the jewish faith that are not hebrew but are jewish like from ethopia who go to israel so they like to call them selves ethopian jews living in israel. they all are revelent with each other because it means people who believe in the teachings of the torah. (old testiment in the bible)

Answer 9

different names for the same group of people.