Hebrew

/ˌhiˈbru/

/ˈhibru/

Other forms: Hebrews

Hebrew is the traditional language of the Jewish people, and it's also the Biblical name for their ancient ancestors. Today, Hebrew is the official language of Israel.

Biblical scholars use the term Hebrew for the descendants of the Old Testament's patriarchs, including Isaac and Abraham, an ancestral group also known as Israelites. The Hebrew language, as well as being spoken and written in Israel, is used for all religious texts, services, and prayers in Judaism. To wish someone peace in Hebrew, you can say "Shalom," and if you're congratulating them, say "Mazel tov!"

Definitions of Hebrew

1. adjective

   of or relating to or characteristic of the Hebrews
   “the old Hebrew prophets”

   synonyms: Hebraic, Hebraical
2. adjective

   of or relating to the language of the Hebrews
   “Hebrew vowels”

   synonyms: Hebraic, Hebraical
3. noun

   a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
   synonyms: Israelite, Jew

   examples:

   Lot

   (Old Testament) nephew of Abraham; God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah but chose to spare Lot and his family who were told to flee without looking back at the destruction

   Jesus of Nazareth

   a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29)

   types:

   Ashkenazi

   a Jew of eastern European or German descent

   Conservative Jew

   Jew who keeps some requirements of Mosaic law but adapts others to suit modern circumstances

   Essene

   a member of an ascetic Jewish sect around the time of Jesus

   Jewess

   a woman who is a Jew

   Levite

   a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi (especially the branch that provided male assistants to the temple priests)

   Orthodox Jew

   Jew who practices strict observance of Mosaic law

   Pharisee

   a member of an ancient Jewish sect noted for strict obedience to Jewish traditions

   Reform Jew

   liberal Jew who tries to adapt all aspects of Judaism to modern circumstances

   Sadducee

   a member of an ancient Jewish sect around the time of Jesus; opposed to the Pharisees

   Sephardi, Sephardic Jew

   a Jew who is of Spanish or Portuguese or North African descent

   Wandering Jew

   a legendary Jew condemned to roam the world for mocking Jesus at the Crucifixion

   Zealot

   a member of an ancient Jewish sect in Judea in the first century who fought to the death against the Romans and who killed or persecuted Jews who collaborated with the Romans

   Zionist

   a Jewish supporter of Zionism

   Chasid, Chassid, Hasid, Hassid

   a member of a Jewish sect that observes a form of strict Orthodox Judaism

   Lubavitcher

   a member of the Lubavitch movement; a follower of Chabad Hasidism

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
4. noun

   the ancient Canaanitic language of the Hebrews that has been revived as the official language of Israel
   types:

   Modern Hebrew

   Hebrew used in Israel today; revived from ancient Hebrew

   type of:

   Canaanitic, Canaanitic language

   a group of Semitic languages