Hebrew
/ˈhiː.bruː/noun
A member of an ancient Semitic people who were the ancestors of the Jews.
Did you know?The term 'Hebrew' is believed to derive from the root word for 'to cross over', hinting at the Israelites' journey to freedom across the Red Sea.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
PSem
ʕbēr
“to cross over”
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
עִבְרִי (Ivri)
“one who crosses over, often referring to the people who migrated from Mesopotamia”
Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew
עִבְרִים (Ivriym)
“the plural form of Ivri, denoting the descendants of Eber”
Late Antiquity
Late Hebrew
עַם עִבְרִי (Am Ivri)
“the Hebrew people, emphasizing their identity as a distinct group”
Modern English
English
Hebrew
“the contemporary term for the language and people descended from the ancient Israelites.”