so if they were called the israelites or hebrews why do they say he was a jew?[abraham]?

Answer 1

A Hebrew is a Descendant of the scriptural Patriarch Abraham. He is the first to be called Hebrew (Genesis 14:13). The Most High made a Covenant with Abraham and his seed. The Title Hebrew was passed on from Abraham to his Son Isaac and Isaac son Jacob and to Jacobs 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel. The Israelites were known and called Hebrews mainly by outsiders or foreigners.

A Israelite is a descendant of the scriptural patriarch Jacob. Jacob was the Grandson of Abraham and the son of Isaac. Jacob had 12 sons these sons were the progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob name was changed to Israel (Yisrael) in Genesis 32:28 and his descendants were called Israelites which denotes they are The children of Jacob or The Children of Israel. The Suffix ITE means a descent from, ISRAEL-ITE means a descendant of Jacob who's name was changed to Israel.

A Jew is a person who practice the religion of Judaism. Jew does not mean a descendant of ancient Israel. The ancient Hebrews were not called Jews, that is a mistranslation, Jew is not a Hebrew Word, it's english. Jew is a word that was created by Gentiles and given to the Israelite tribe of Yahudah (Judah). Yah the Most High didn't give his people the name of Jew, this was done by men. Jew is not in the 1611 KJV of the bible. The ancient Hebrew Israelites were not Jews neither are their descendants.

Answer 2

Abraham was not technically an Israelite. The one you are referring to is Jacob, son of Issac and Rebeckah.

Jacob was given a new name after he wrestled with God. God told him his name would now be Israel. Abraham was dead already at this point, but still remains the father of all nations, including the Israelites.

Jew is a relatively modern term, New Testament vs. old, and is another name for Israelites.

Hebrew is a language spoken. Not a nation. Nor a name.

Answer 3

hebrews means much the same as nomad
Jacob was a hebrew, a descendant of Abraham, who had his name changed to Israel thus his offspring were called Israelites. His son Judah had descendants known as Jews. Jesus was a decendant of Judah.
When the kingdom split there were Isralites and Jews in the same country.
Abraham was a hebrew.

Answer 4

I don't know anyone who calls Abraham a Jew. The first mention of a Jew in the Bible is in the book of Esther written almost a 1000 years after Abraham.

Answer 5

Abraham was not an Israelite, or even a Hebrew. He certainly wasn't a Jew.
Abraham was the father of Isaac (God later changed his name to Israel), who was the father of twelve sons, who were the Patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel.
One of those twelve tribes was the tribe of Judah, from whom we get the term "Jew".

Answer 6

abraham started the covenant with god (circumcision), but there was still many steps to go inorder to complete the religion. God institued passover celebration w/ Moses> Abraham wasn't a "complete" jew as the law of god wasn't given until moses>

Answer 7

The term "Jew" orginally was meant for those of the Tribe of Judah. Then it became a term for those living in Jerusalem, finally it means for those of the Tribe of Israel. Eventually it will return to it's original terminology.

Answer 8

Abraham was neither a Jew nor an Israelite.

Jacob was the first "Israeli" and he apparently became so by magic since he was born Jacob.

Answer 9

Judah, the ruling tribe, symbolized by a lion.

Answer 10

Because that is what we are referred to today. The name is not really that important.