Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Shai Heijmans" <shaih AT post.tau.ac.il>]

Dear Mr. Carras,

"Hebrew" entered the english language (through latin
< greek < aramaic) from the hebrew  "ivri" = "belonging to the hebrews", see 
e.g. Jona 1, 9.

As far as I know, the greeks were the first to use this term to as denote
the language of the bible. The term "ivrit" was used before the greeks in
the rabbinic literature, but there it meant mainly the aramaic language,
not the hebrew language.

As to the origin of the term "ivri" - it is quite obscure. Some say it is
related to the "khabiru" tribe. If you are interested in the etymology of
"ivri", see the literature in the Kohler-Baumbgartner Dictionary, under
"ivri" (p. 782a). A good summary of the literature can be found in the
Encyclopaedia Biblica [in Heb], vol 6, p. 49-50.

Shai Heijmans
Tel Aviv Univeristy


> b-hebrew,
> What is the origin and meaning of the term "hebrew?"
> 
> har1marjohn AT juno.com
> 
> Thank you,
> John Carras