Jew & Jews
Index:
Introduction:
See ETYMOLOGY REFERENCE LINKS at the bottom of the page.
This has become a very exiciting bit of research for me.
Using the TeNaKh as a baseline for my study, I found that without exception, the word 'Jew' had been translated from a Hebrew word meaning 'Judean' or 'person from Judea'. It has no reference to the tribe of Judah/Yahudah or the house of Judah/Yahudah. The book of Esther and Ezekiel serve stark testimony to this fact.
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
Since the northern tribes or the House of Israel had been exiled by the Assyrians almost 100 years earlier (~722 B.C.) the book of Ezekiel (~640 B.C.) could NOT have been referring to them when if references the house of Israel. Therefore, the book of Ezekiel, written prior to the Judeans going into Babylonian exile, HAD to be talking to the House of Judah when it refences the House of Israel in the present tense. This would mean the only possible meaning that Hamon could have been using with the word 'yeh-hoo-dee' was Judean or person from Judea. Haman could not have been referring to Mordecai's tribal affiliation as Mordecai was a Benjamite and Haman could not be referring to the house of Judah as that was not the term the Hebrew people had used in that day.
After reading Facts Are Facts by Benjamin H. Freedman (WWW.BIBLEBELIEVERS.ORG.AU) I have evidence that the word 'Jew' did not exist prior to 1775 when Sheridan used it in his play "The Rivals". Additionally, according to the same source, the word 'Judaism' was first coined by Flavius Josephus which would mean the term did not exist during the time of the Messiah in the early part of the first century A.D./CE.
Why did the Judeans suddenly change the name of the belief system to a name coined by a man they considered to be a traitor (Flavius Josephus)?
If the 'Y', 'ya', 'yah', 'yeh' sound existed and was spoken, why was the name of the Yahudite people suddenly changed in 1775 to Jew?
"There is not a person in the whole English-speaking world today who regards a "Jew" as a "Judean" in the literal sense of the word. That was the correct and only meaning in the 18th century. The generally accepted "secondary meaning" of the word "Jew" today with practically no exceptions is made up of our almost universally-believed theories. These four theories are that a so-called or self-styled "Jew" is
(1) a person who today professes the form of religious worship known as "Judaism",
(2) a person who claims to belong to a racial group associated with the ancient Semites,
(3) a person directly the descendant of an ancient nation which thrived in Palestine in Bible history,
(4) a person blessed by Divine intentional design with certain superior cultural characteristics denied to other racial, religious or national groups, all rolled into one.
THE TRUTH ABOUT KHAZARS, "Facts Are Facts" Benjamin H. Freedman pt.1 (Formatting Added)
Eventually, one is confronted with the obvious question, "What is a Jew?"
I was a bit surprised by the reaction to this question. People frequently attributed an almost dogmatic status to their definition of the word. When one recalls that the word didn't even exist two hundrend and fifty (250)years ago people's attached importance to this word seems out of place. Looking at the four definitions provided by Mr. Freedman, certain inconsistancies become immediately apparent.
Recalling example #1 'a person who today professes the form of religious worship known as "Judaism"', this has been the only definition that I have been able to apply consistantly to the word.
Looking at example #2 'a person who claims to belong to a racial group associated with the ancient Semites', while a very distant association can be made through DNA testing, there is nothing conclusive. For the record, DNA testing does NOT determine if you are a decendant of the Hebrews or even if you are decendant of Abraham. All the DNA testing does is determine if you have Semiitic markers in your DNA. DNA testing is not able to determine if those semitic markers come from the line of Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, or Essau much less what particular tribe you are from if you were of the line of Jacob/Israel. An interesting question to note is, "How did the so-called Jews get from the land of exile (Babylon) or from the Holy Land (Palestine) to Northern Europe after the temple fell? Where is the record of this Exodus? Wouldn't they have had to literally move through the land occupied by the ten (10) northern tribes who had been exiled there hundreds of years earlier?
While example #3 'a person directly the descendant of an ancient nation which thrived in Palestine in Bible history, is possible, it is also highly unlikely as ancestral records where not long lived due to time an conflicts between individuals and nations. The printing press was not invented until ~1440. Prior to that, the ability to read and write was confined primarily to the rich upper class. If individual so-called Jews are able to trace their history back that far, who kept the records all that time and throughout all those moves?
Example #4 'a person blessed by Divine intentional design with certain superior cultural characteristics denied to other racial, religious or national groups, all rolled into one.' is totally unsubstantiated by Scripture but curiously enough totally supported by the Jewish Talmud/Mishnah.
Scripture References For The Word Jew:
Jew/Yahudah - of the tribe of Judah; a Hebrew person; (3064) - patronymically from 'Yhuwdah' (3063); a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah):--Jew.; (3063) - from 'yadah' (3034); celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory:--Judah.; (3034) - a primitive root; used only as denominative from 'yad' (3027); literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands):--cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving).
8This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;(KJV)
9That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.(KJV)
Taken in context with the previous verse, (Jeremiah 34:8) which states ALL the people which were at Jerusalem, the use of the word 'Jew' here should mean Judeans. (It cannot mean the tribe of Judah and doesn't seem to be exclusive to the house of Judah either.)
22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.(KJV)
23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.(KJV)
Taken in context with the previous verse, (Zechariah 8:22), the use of the word 'Jew' here could mean Judean or people from the house of Judah. (It cannot mean the tribe of Judah since all Hebrews are allowed in Jerusalem and the Holy City is more the abode of the Levites than the Yahudites.)
5"Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;" (KJV)
"In the citadel of Shushan there was a certain man, a Yehudite whose name was Mordekai son of Ya'ir, son of Shim'i, son of Qish, a Binyamite,"(The ISR Scriptures)
"Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Yahudi, 4141 whose name was Mordechai, the son of Yair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benyamite;"(The Restoration Scriptures)
4141 - The thought of anyone having to become Jewish is nonsensical prior to 921 BCE when the Tabernacle of Dawid split. The term “Jew,” or “Jews,” is not mentioned in Scripture prior to 490 BCE. The term “Jew” does not even appear in the Scriptures in social-historical Yisrael until the nation split into two houses and is first referenced here in the Scroll of Esther (and in the Scroll of Jeremiah), which took place after the first return of Judah from the Babylonian captivity. Jews did not exist as Jews separately from Yisrael until the kingdom split in 921 BCE. Any ties to social and historical Yisrael prior to that date would lead one to Yisraelite, and certainly not Jewish, status. Mordechai was considered a Jew, because he came from Benjamin, a southern tribe after the split.
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite, the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
4Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.(KJV)
"And it came to be, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether the words of Mordekai would stand - for he had told them that he was a Yehudite."(The ISR Scriptures)
"Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he listened not to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordechai's words would stand: for he had told them that he was a Yahudi."(The Restoration Scriptures)
"And it happened, when they spoke daily to him, and he did not listen to them, they told Haman, to see if Mordecai's matters would stand. For he had told them that he was a Jew."(Hebraic Roots Bible)
"Now it was when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecais reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew."(Interlinear Ester)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.(KJV)
""But all this does not suit me, as long as I see Mordekai the Yehudite sitting at the sovereign's gate.""(The ISR Scriptures)
"Yet all this means nothing to me, as long as I see Mordechai the Yahudi sitting at the melech's gate."(The Restoration Scriptures)
"Yet all this is no gain to me as long as I am seeing Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."(Hebraic Roots Bible)
No matter how much Haman had, he wasn't satisfied.
Since Haman had no way of knowing what tribe Mordecai/Mordekai was in and it is unlikely Haman understood the concept of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, it is most likely Haman is using the word Yehudite to point to Mordecai/Mordekai's land of origin (Judea).
10"Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken." (KJV)
"And the sovereign said to Haman, "Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have spoken, and do so for Mordekai the Yehudite who sits in the sovereign's gate. Let no word fail of all that you have spoken.""(The ISR Scriptures)
"Then the melech said to Haman, Hurry, and take the apparel and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordechai the Yahudi, that sits at the melech's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken."(The Restoration Scriptures)
"And the king said to Haman, Hurry! Take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not fail to do any of all the things you have spoken."(Hebraic Roots Bible)
"Then the king said to Haman, Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the kings gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said." (Interlinear Esther)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
7"Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews." (KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
29"Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim." (KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
31"To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry." (KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
3"For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed." (KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Benjamite/Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'; However, Mordecai/Mordekai's 'seed' would have been Benjamites/Binyamites.
Scripture References For The Word Jews:
6"At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day." (KJV)
Translation Difference
'At that time Retsin sovereign of Aram recovered Ĕylath for Aram, and drove the men of Yehudah from Ĕylath. And the Edomites went to Ĕylath, and have dwelt there to this day.'(The ISR Scriptures)
'At that time Retzin melech of Aram recovered Eilat for Aram, and drove the men of Yahudah from Eilat: and the Arameans came to Eilat, and dwelt there to this day. 991'(The Restoration Scriptures)
991 - The Arameans lived in Yisrael proper on and off throughout Yisrael's history and often mixed with Yisrael, becoming Yisrael, as in the case of the Aramean matriarchs of our forefathers.
'At that time Rezin the king of Syria brought Elath back to Syria, and threw the Jews out of Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath and lived there to this day.'(Hebraic Roots Bible)
'At that time Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram, and cleared the Judeans out of Elath entirely; and the Arameans came to Elath and have lived there to this day.' (Interlinear 2 Kings)
This is the first time the Hebrews are called Jews. I think this is a mistranslation in the KJV.
11"Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;" (KJV)
12"Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much." (KJV)
15"Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?" (KJV)
13"And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him." (KJV)
7"Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews." (KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'.
3"For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed." (KJV)
Since Mordekai was a Benjamite/Binyamite (according to Esther 2:5), the reference to 'Jew' here must mean either 'person from the land of Judea' or 'person from the House of Judah'; However, Mordecai/Mordekai's 'seed' would have been Benjamites/Binyamites.
1"Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them." (KJV)
2"That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem." (KJV)
Scripture References For The Word Jewry:
13"Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?" (KJV)
B'rit Chadasha/New Testament Scripture References For The Word Jew:
Judaea
(G 2449) - Ioudaia (ee-oo-dah'-yah) - feminine of Ioudaios 2453 (with gh - ge 1093 implied); the Judaean land (i.e. Judaea), a region of Palestine:--Judaea.;
(G 2453) - Ioudaios (ee-oo-dah'-yos) - from Iouda 2448 (in the sense of Ioudas 2455 as a country); Judaean, i.e. belonging to Jehudah:--Jew(-ess), of Judaea.;
(G 1093) - ge (ghay) - contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application):--country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world.;
Jewish/Yahudim/Yahudite/Ioudaikos (ee-oo-dah-ee-kos') - (G 2451) - from Ioudaios 2453; Judaic, i.e. resembling a Judaean:--Jewish.; (G 2453) - from Iouda 2448 (in the sense of Ioudas 2455 as a country); Judaean, i.e. belonging to Jehudah:--Jew(-ess), of Judaea.; (G 2448) - of Hebrew origin (3063 or perhaps Yuttah 3194); Judah (i.e. Jehudah or Juttah), a part of (or place in) Palestine:--Judah.; (G 2455) - of Hebrew origin (Yhuwdah 3063); Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region:--Juda(-h, -s); Jude.
(G 2448) - Iouda (ee-oo-dah') - of Hebrew origin (3063 or perhaps Yuttah 3194); Judah (i.e. Jehudah or Juttah), a part of (or place in) Palestine:--Judah.;
(G 2455) - Ioudas (ee-oo-das') - of Hebrew origin (Yhuwdah 3063); Judas (i.e. Jehudah), the name of ten Israelites; also of the posterity of one of them and its region:--Juda(-h, -s); Jude.;
(G 3063) - Yhuwdah (yeh-hoo-daw') - from 'yadah' (3034); celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory:--Judah.;
(G 3194) - Yuttah (yoo-taw') - or Yuwtah {yoo-taw'}; from 'natah' (5186); extended; Juttah (or Jutah), a place in Palestine:--Juttah.
(G 3034) - yadah (yaw-daw') - a primitive root; used only as denominative from 'yad' (3027); literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands):--cast (out), (make) confess(-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank(-ful, -s, -sgiving).;
(G 3027) - yad (yawd) - a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 'kaph' (3709), the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad, (broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, + creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship, force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in, labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine, ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain, power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing, + thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side, where, + wide, X with (him, me, you), work, + yield, X yourselves.
(G 5186) - natah (naw-taw') - a primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows):--+ afternoon, apply, bow (down, - ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield.
1"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem," (KJV)
2"Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." (KJV)
5"And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet," (KJV)
6"And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel." (KJV)
Judaea
22"But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:" (KJV)
14"Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (KJV)
Reference Links:
- The Word "Jew" and the Scriptures (HTTP://ASSEMBLYOFTRUEISRAEL.COM)
Etymology Of The Word Jew:
- Jew (word) (HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG)
- History of God's Holy Bible and the so-called Jews (WWW.BIBLEBELIEVERS.ORG.AU)
- Origin of the Word "Jew" (WWW.OVERLORDSOFCHAOS.COM)
- Who Is a Jew? (WWW.JEWFAQ.ORG)
- Who was the first Jew? (WWW.GOTQUESTIIONS.ORG)
Facts Are Facts by Benjamin H. Freedman
- Facts Are Facts Index by Benjamin H. Freedman (WWW.BIBLEBELIEVERS.ORG.AU)
- Facts Are Facts by Benjamin H. Freedman (WWW.BIBLEBELIEVERS.ORG.AU)
- Facts Are Facts (Part II.) by Benjamin H. Freedman (WWW.BIBLEBELIEVERS.ORG.AU)
- Facts Are Facts (Part III.) by Benjamin H. Freedman (WWW.BIBLEBELIEVERS.ORG.AU)