Warning! Politically incorrect question?

Question

What are the meanings and differences, if any, between a Hebrew, and Israeli, and Israelite, and a Jew?

Answer 1

An "Israeli" is a citizen of the present day country of "Israel".

An "Israelite" is a descendant of any of the 12 sons of Jacob. More on this later....

"Hebrew" can refer to the Hebrew language itself, and also refers to "Abraham" who was known as the first "Hebrew".

"Jewish", "Jew", "Judiasm" all stem from the name of one of Jacobs sons: Yehuda. In latin languages, the "Y" was transformed to the "J" sound, therefore Yehuda is known as Judah in English. Thus in English we get "Jew", "Jewish", "Judaism".

At one point, present day "Jews" were known as "Israelites", and before that they were called "Hebrews". The Jews are also known as the "Children of Jacob", and as the "Children of Israel". Today, you can really refer to a Jew by any one of these names and people would understand what you mean (at least Jewish people will understand).

How did the "Hebrew" -> "Israelite" -> "Jew" evolution happen?

As mentioned before, Abraham was the first "Hebrew". "Hebrew" is the latinization of "Ivri", which means to cross over to the other side, referring to the fact that Abraham crossed over from a polytheistic society that worshipped idols to a belief in a single infinite God (monotheism).

Abraham had a son Isaac (Yitzchak in original Hebrew), and Isaac in turn had a son Jacob. At a certain point, Jacob is given the name "Israel" (referring to his wrestling match with an angel).

"Israel" (aka Jacob) had 12 sons. The sons were each (eventually) allocated a portion of the promised land (pretty much where the modern day country of Israel is - but not 100% exactly the same borders as today).

Each son developed into a "tribe" (I'm skipping a lot here, but bear with me). The 12 tribes were pretty much united for a long time, especially so under the reign of King David, however after the death of King Solomon, the tribes had a disagreement. The kingdom of Israel split into two kingdoms:

- The Northern Kingdom of Israel which was made up of 10 of the tribes.

- The Southern Kingdom of Yehuda (Judah) which was made up of the remaining 2 tribes (obviously Yehuda was one of them, plus Binyamin (aka Benjamin)).

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was eventually destroyed by the Assyrian Empire and its 10 tribes were dispersed and are today known as the "10 lost tribes of Israel".

At that point, the Southern Kingdom of Yehuda (Judah) continued to exist, so whatever remnant of "Hebrews" or "Israelites" were left were called "Jews" since they came from the Kingdom of Judah.

Later, the Kingdom of Yehuda (Judah) was destroyed by the Babylonian Empire (see Jeremiah for details), and a great many of the Jews were taken to Babylon.

Just 70 years later, the Babylonians were defeated by the Persian Empire, and the Persians allowed the Jews to return to their land and rebuild the temple (see Ezra and Nehemiah).

Since that time, the Jews have been called Jews.

Hope that explains things!

Answer 2

A Jew is a person that follows/celebrates/is a member of the Jewish faith, in the same way a Catholic is said to follow the Roman Catholic or more broadly Christian faith.

Hebrew is Its is the name of the proper language of the state of Israel, and is also the religious language of many but not all Jews it has an interesting history in so far as prior to about 1810 or so it was considered a dead language in the way ancient Aramaic is no longer spoken. Ancient Hebrew was basically resurrected in the early 1800's and became widely popular among most segments of the Jewish community.

An Israeli or Israeli is the "modern" form of the ancient Israelite - today, strictly speaking a person who holds Israeli citizenship.

However it is entirely possible to be an Israeli and in fact be a Muslim or a Christian or some other religious orientation. More to the point of demographics, Jews represent about 60-65% of the population of Israel at the present time.

In historical/religious texts, Israelites may also be considered synonomous with the Jewish people although it has much the same meaning now as then. Ironically, It also has a specific religious / ancient reference in the singular form as a reference for the person of Christ.

Answer 3

I don't see what so PI about this question.

In short 'Hebrew' denotes a race , tribe of ancient Mesopotamian origin. Israel was the name given to this tribe after the Biblical Patriarch Jacob who was also named Israel (See Genesis).

The moniker 'Jew' comes from Judah one of the sons of the aforementioned Jacob/Israel. Judah is considered to be the ancestor of many of the world's Jews. And hence the term 'Judaism' refers to the religion of the majority of the Israelite/Hebrew/Jews.

To further simplify it:

Judaism=Religion

Hebrew/Israelite=Ethnic group

Answer 4

Apologies for responding to a question to which I completely don't have an answer... not even an incorrect one. I don't think this question is politically incorrect at all. It sounds as though you're genuinely curious about the differences, or have a need to know.

It would be great if all cultural questions were as respectful as yours. I've learned from this, because I too thought there was no difference between the four.

Answer 5

If I remember correctly:

Hebrew refers to those people descended from the 12 Tribes of Israel in the Old Testament.

Israelite refers to those people who occupied Ancient Israel (or under the control of Rome, Babylon, etc. as slaves), and who shared the same belief in a monotheistic universe (which at the time was quite unpopular).

Israeli refers to those people who are currently occupying the Nation of Israel (in the Middle East, re-formed in the 1940s).

The term Jew refers to those people who follow the Hebrew faith of Judaism. It is not dependent on a familial line or national identity. People may convert to Judaism.

Answer 6

A Jew is a human being that follows/celebrates/is a member of the Jewish faith, interior an identical way a Catholic is asserted to stay with the Roman Catholic or more effective extensively Christian faith. Hebrew is Its is the call of the ideal language of the state of Israel, and is likewise the religious language of many yet no longer all Jews it has an exciting historic previous in so a techniques as previous to about 1810 or so it become considered a useless language contained in the way historic Aramaic is now no longer spoken. historic Hebrew become basically resurrected contained in the early 1800's and grew to grow to be extensively oftentimes going on between maximum segments of the Jewish community. An Israeli or Israeli is the "cutting-edge" type of the historic Israelite - at present, strictly talking someone who holds Israeli citizenship. in spite of the undeniable fact that it really is totally achieveable to be an Israeli and in reality be a Muslim or a Christian or another religious orientation. more effective to the point of demographics, Jews characterize about 60-sixty 5% of the inhabitants of Israel this modern day. In historic/religious texts, Israelites is often considered synonomous with the Jewish human beings in spite of the undeniable fact that it has a lot an identical meaning now as then. paradoxically, It also has a particular religious / historic reference contained in the singular variety as a reference for the guy of Christ.

Answer 7

this is not a politically incorect question.
A JEw came from 'yehudi' which means you are from the tribe of Judah, hich many jews are. However, now it refers to anyone in the jewish faith, no mater what tribe they come from, or if they come from none. (convert)
An "Israelite" means a descendent of Israel, whos the ancestor of all jews, which is usually only used to talk about Jews in the time of the Bible
A Hebrew comes from the biblical term 'ivri' which means someone from the other side of the euphrates, which refers to descendents of Abraham (Jacab/Israel who are the same person's grandfather) which cud include arabs but is only used to refer to Jews.
Israeli means someone who is from the state of Israel.

Answer 8

I think they're all one & the same but I'm not sure

Answer 9

They are all Jewish people, the chosen people of God.

Answer 10

israel people r all jew (and no am not includin palestine)..