ANN054

The Jews

Article ANN054 clarifies the terms used for the people of Israel: Jew, Israelite, Israeli, Hebrew and Semite. Each term has a distinct meaning depending on the historical, religious or civic context. The article distinguishes in particular between ‘Jew’ (a people or a religion, depending on the capital letter) and ‘Israelite’ (descendants of the twelve tribes). It affirms its recognition of Israel as the people of God and offers precise definitions to help readers better understand the Scriptures and the contemporary context.

10 min Jew Israelite Hebrew Semite Israeli

For more information

See also:

Introduction

Jew, Israelite, Israeli, Hebrews, Semites: how do we make sense of them?

These terms all relate to the people of Israel, but each has a distinct meaning. We wanted to offer simple and precise definitions, although this is not as easy as it might seem.

Indeed, some words can have several interpretations depending on the context. For example, the word “Jew” can sometimes be used in a pejorative sense.

Here are the most common definitions of each of these terms, without going into overly complex details.

The French noun “juif” can be written with a lowercase or a capital initial, each spelling carrying a different meaning.

According to the rule of the Larousse dictionary, “un juif is a member of the religious community; un Juif is a member of the Jewish people.” The capital letter is used when speaking of a people, for example: the French, whereas the lowercase refers to a religion, as in: Christians.

Although the rule is simple, applying it can prove difficult because of latent antisemitism. Consequently, the use of this term, particularly to designate certain people, can be perceived as racist.

For example, the statement “they are Jews” is not interpreted in the same way as “they are French.” There are many unhealed wounds that may never be healed, obliging us to clarify our words and our position.

The term “Jew” derives from the name Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, also called Israel. In the Bible, the first person described as a “Jew” is Mordecai. Although Abraham is also called a “Jew” by the Sages of Israel, this is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible.

The word “Jew”, capitalized or not depending on the context, appears 280 times in the New Testament and 93 times in the Old Testament.

We draw attention to the fact that some nations, which do not recognize Israel as a people, never use the term “Jew”. We, for our part, recognize Israel as a people, and even as the people of God. That is why we write “Jew” with a capital letter.

We also use the term “the Jews” to designate the people and “the non-Jews” to name the Gentiles or pagans.

II. Israelite

The Israelites were a people of the ancient Near East, referring more specifically to the descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob. The meaning of the name “Israel” is notable: Jacob, “the deceiver”, becomes Israel, “he who wrestles with God”.

The term “Israelite” derives directly from “Israel”. Although it emphasizes a religious dimension by designating the descendants of Israel, it also encompasses the whole Jewish people. The word “Israelite” is mentioned 671 times in the Old Testament and 24 times in the New Testament.

The term “Israelite” refers to a nationality in antiquity and to a religious identity in the modern period. To understand the distinction between “Jew” and “Israelite”, it is important to look at the history of this people.

After the reign of King Solomon, the nation split in two: in the north, the kingdom of Israel, which would have given rise to the name “Israelite”, and in the south, the kingdom of Judah, from which the term “Jew” derives. This interpretation, although disputed by some, is considered consistent and acceptable by many historians and scholars.

Today it is generally accepted that the terms “Israelite” and “Jew” have distinct meanings, although they are sometimes used interchangeably in certain contexts.

Israelite: Historically, this term refers to the members of the twelve tribes of Israel in the . It is often used to speak of the ancient inhabitants of the kingdom of Israel or of the Hebrews. Today, this word is less common and has a more historical or religious connotation.

Jew: This term designates a person belonging to the Jewish people, either by birth or by conversion to Judaism. It can have a religious meaning (practicing Judaism) or a cultural one (belonging to the Jewish community, even without religious practice).

In summary, “Israelite” is an older term, specific to a biblical or historical context, whereas “Jew” is used in a modern setting to designate people of Jewish origin or faith.

III. Israeli

“Israeli” designates the inhabitants of the State of Israel. This term is neutral with regard to the ethnic origin or religion of individuals.

Thus, it includes not only Jews but also Muslim Arabs, Christians, and other groups who live in Israel.

This term, modern in nature, does not appear in the Bible.

IV. Hebrew

The term “Hebrew” originally designated a population of the ancient Near East, the Israelites. The etymology of this word remains a subject of debate: some translate it as “those who pass over or beyond the river”, potentially referring to the Euphrates, while others link it to the descendants of Eber, great-grandson of Shem, with a similar meaning.

In the Bible, the word “Hebrew” is used 36 times in the Old Testament and 11 times in the New Testament. Nowadays, the term is less often used to designate the people, but it remains the name of the language spoken and written in Israel: Hebrew.

The is written entirely in Hebrew, with a few exceptions, notably in the books of Daniel and Ezra, which include passages in Aramaic. In the time of Jesus, Aramaic, a language closely related to Hebrew, was commonly spoken.

Hebrew, however, was mainly used for religious discussions and the teachings of the teachers of the law.

V. Semite

The term “Semite” does not appear in the biblical writings. It was coined in 1781 by August Ludwig Schlözer, a German historian and linguist, to designate peoples speaking languages from a common language family, including Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic.

The name “Semite” derives from Shem, one of the three sons of Noah, the other two being Ham and Japheth, according to the biblical tradition.

Thus, the term “Semite” encompasses all the peoples speaking these languages, which includes the Jews but also other ethnic and linguistic groups, such as the Arabs.

However, a common confusion arises with the term “antisemitism”, which is defined as an attitude or doctrine of systematic hostility toward the Jewish people.

In practice, although the word “antisemitism” may suggest hostility toward all Semitic peoples, its use is historically and exclusively limited to hostility toward the Jews.

VI. Zionism

Zionism is a nationalist and political movement born in the late 19th century, aiming to establish and support a national home for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, a region historically known by the following different names: , Israel, Palestine.

The main aspects of Zionism are the following:

Origins and development: Zionism emerged in Europe in the late 19th century, in response to the growing antisemitism and the persecution that the Jews were suffering. Theodor Herzl, often regarded as the father of modern Zionism, played a key role in formalizing and promoting the idea of a Jewish state.

Objectives: The main goal of Zionism was to create a sovereign state for the Jews, where they could live in safety and freely practice their culture and their religion. This idea was motivated by the desire for self-determination and by the need to find a solution to the problem of antisemitism.

Migration to Palestine: From the late 19th century onward, many Jews began to immigrate to Palestine, then under Ottoman and later British rule. This immigration, known as Aliyah, aimed to establish a stronger Jewish presence in the region.

Establishment of the State of Israel: Zionism reached a high point in 1948 with the creation of the State of Israel. This achievement was a direct response to the horrors of the Holocaust as well as to decades of struggle for a Jewish state.

Diversity of currents: Zionism is not monolithic; it includes several currents, among them religious Zionism, socialist Zionism, secular Zionism, and others. Each has its own vision of what the State of Israel should be and how it should be governed.

Controversies and conflicts: The Zionist movement has been, and continues to be, the subject of controversy and conflict, notably because of the Palestinian question and the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Criticism of Zionism often focuses on the issues of Palestinian rights and the occupation of territories.

“Zionists” are therefore people who support the idea of Zionism, that is, the creation and support of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel.

You can read the chapters: The land of Israel today, and The end of conflicts

Conclusion

We hope to have brought some clarification with these explanations. It is nevertheless crucial to stress one point: the history of the Jewish people is unique because of the sufferings endured over the centuries, trials that persist to this day and have left deep and indelible scars.

It is also important to recall that the Jewish people have been accused of deicide, that is, the murder of God, by certain branches of Christianity, in connection with the crucifixion of the Messiah Jesus. This unfounded accusation has fueled antisemitism throughout history.

No people in history has been the object of such constant hatred over such a prolonged period. This hostility has undeniably shaped the Jewish experience and identity.

Finally, it is essential to acknowledge that, even though some Jews may hold diverse beliefs concerning Yahweh, many of the peoples around them still strongly associate them with their religion, Judaism, and with their traditional relationship with Yahweh, that is, God.