he'-broo, he'-broo-es (`ibhri, feminine `ibhriyah; Hebraios): The earliest name for Abraham (Ge 14:13) and his descendants (Joseph,Ge 39:14,17;40:15;41:12;43:32; Israelites in Egypt,Ex 1:15;2:6,11,13;3:18; in laws,Ex 21:2;De 15:12; in history,1Sa 4:6,9;13:7,19, etc.; later,Jer 34:9, "Hebrewess," 34:14;Jon 1:9; in the New Testament,Ac 6:1;2Co 11:22;Php 3:5). The etymology of the word is disputed. It may be derived from Eber (Ge 10:21,24,25, etc.), or, as some think, from the verb `abhar, "to cross over" (people from across the Euphrates; compareJos 24:2). A connection is sought by some with the apri or epri of the Egyptian monuments, and again with the Habiri of the Tell el-Amarna Letters. InAc 6:1, the "Hebrews" are contrasted with "Hellenists," or Greek-speaking Jews. By the "Hebrew" tongue in the New Testament (Hebraisti,Joh 5:2;19:13,17,20;20:16) is meantARAMAIC(which see), but also inRe 9:11;16:16, Hebrew proper.
James Orr