An Attempt To Date
Jews, Hebrews and Israelites
G.D.O'Bradovich III
April 3, 2015
The following citations are courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary. Secondary sources are in red.
A person belonging to the Semitic tribe or nation descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; an Israelite, a Jew. (Historically, the term is usually applied to the early Israelites; in modern use it avoids the religious and other associations often attaching to Jew.)
[OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xl. 15 Ic wæs dearnunga forstolen of Ebrea lande.]
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. xliii. 114 Not seruaunt, but a veray hebrewe.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 73 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 Þare is bot a god but drede, þat of hebreis þe god Is.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Eiv, As it is writine in the vi chaiptur to the Hebreis.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xii. 93 Of nature an Hebrew.
a1616 Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. v. 46 If not, thou art an Hebrew, a Iew, and not worth the name of a Christian.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 1319 Thou knowst I am an Ebrew.
a1832 F. D. Maurice Moral Philos. in Encycl. Metrop. II. 558/1 The difference between the Hebrews and Greeks generally.
†b. Hebrew race or stock. Obs.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. xl. 15 Theuelich Y am had awey fro the loond of Hebrew [a1425 L.V. Ebrews].
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 59 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 130 A madyne com amange þam all of hebrow borne In-to þe land.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 66 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 He of hebrow ves a manne.
The Semitic language spoken by the Hebrews, and in which most of the books of the Old Testament were written; it became extinct in vernacular use three or four centuries b.c., but survived liturgically, and is still cultivated by educated Jews throughout the world.(In the New Testament applied to the Aramaic or Syriac, the vernacular language of the Hebrews of the time.)
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 136 For iudit on ebrew is scrhif an englisch.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2179 Al men spak bot wit on tong, þat es hebru, al for to sai.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 Þai can speke na langage bot Ebrew.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 All þe Iews..lerez for to speke Hebrew.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) John xix. 17 A place..which is named in hebrue, Golgatha.
1645 Milton Colasterion 2 As if hee knew both Greek and Ebrew.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 732 The Doctor of the highest reputation for learning, who understood Hebrew, Arabic and the Hindoo Language.
1842 J. C. Prichard Nat. Hist. Man 143 Even the language of Numidia is supposed by Gesenius to have been a pure, or nearly pure, Hebrew.
In reference to the language; of persons: learned in Hebrew, as a Hebrew scholar.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 406 In a dale..þat ebron hatte, in hebru nam.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xxiii. f. cxvj, His superscripcion was written over him, in greke, latin, and ebrue letters.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. i. 7 Turkes Caracters, nor Hebrue Points to seeke.
1615 Bp. J. Hall Imprese of God i, in Recoll. Treat. 656 The Macabees had foure Hebrew letters in their ensigne.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 5 For Hebrew Roots, although th'are found To flourish most in barren ground.
1895 W. A. Copinger in Trans. Bibliogr. Soc. 2 ii. 112 Hebrew type is found in a book printed by Fyner, at Esslingen in 1475..but no work was, I believe, wholly printed in this character till 1477.
A person of Hebrew descent; one whose religion is Judaism; an Israelite.Orig. a Hebrew of the kingdom of Judah, as opposed to those of the ten tribes of Israel; later, any Israelite who adhered to the worship of Jehovah as conducted at Jerusalem. Applied comparatively rarely to the ancient nation before the exile (cf. Hebrew n. 1), but the commonest name for contemporary or modern representatives of this group, now spread throughout the world. The word ‘Jew’ is also applied to groups, e.g. the Falashas in Ethiopia, not ethnically related to persons of the main European groups, the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim.
c1275 Passion our Lord 351 in Old Eng. Misc. 47 Pilates hym onswerede, am ich Gyv þenne?
c1325 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 68 Ich holde me vilore þen a Gyw [rhymes bowe, trowe, now].
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 385 Charles Grossus was i-poysoned of a Iewe [v.r. Iuw].
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11072 It halus bath Iu and sarȝine.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3944 O sinnu etes neuer juu [Gött. ieuu, Trin. Cambr. iew].
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 18579 And namely leue her of no iwe For al þus dud þei wiþ ihesu.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 4532 Þerynne a iewes childe we fonde.
a1400 Pistill of Susan 2 Þat was a Ieuȝ ientil, and Ioachin he hiht.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 266/2 Ive, judeus.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 235/1 Jue a man of jurye, jvif.
1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxi. 173 Mair nor in Jurie dois the Jow.
1600 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 54 Whats his reason, I am a Iewe: Hath not a Iewe eyes.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 52 His mother a Iew both by birth and religion.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i, She shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew.
1820 Byron Blues i. 77 You forget Lady Lilac's as rich as a Jew.
1940 W. H. Auden Another Time 116 He [sc. Sigmund Freud] Was taken away from his old interest To go back to the earth in London, An important Jew who died in exile.
1956 I. Murdoch Flight from Enchanter ix. 126 ‘Of course, you realize that I could rescue you with my little finger,’ said Mrs Wingfield. ‘I'm as rich as a Jew!’
Plural.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 9 Alswa hefden þe giwis heore sinagoge.
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 Hi..askede wer was se king of gyus þet was i-bore.
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 King of geus.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 142 O þe Iuus [v.rr. iewes] and moyses.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xxvii. 5 Þe iowes sloghe crist.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 53 Þat he schulde doo þe Iewes [v.r. Iuwes] out of Engelond.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 19129 Þar badd þai iuen suld þaim ȝeme.
1482 Caxton Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) IV. 369 Þe Iuwes accused Pilatus to Tiberius.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 30 Ve prech Iesu Christ crucifeit, sclander to the Iowis and folie to the gentils.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. lii, Haue mercy vpon all Iewes, Turkes, Infidels, and heretikes.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xvi. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria..draue the Iews from Elath.
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 2 In Rome there liued in the Apostles times many Iewes.
1710 tr. B. Telles Trav. Jesuits in Ethiopia i. viii. 38 Betwixt the Emperor's Dominions and the Cafres..there are still many of these Jews, whom they there call Falaxas, which signifies, Strangers.
1776 Gibbon Decline & Fall xv, The same..abhorrence for idolatry which had distinguished the Jews from the other nations of the ancient world.
Gen. plur.
a1225 Juliana 62 Ant þoledest pinen ant passiun þurh giwes read on rode.
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 288 To acwiten ut his leofmon ingywene honden.
c1350 Childh. Jesus 616 (Mätz.) Giwene children feole..Him siweden.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 4532 Þar-in a Iuen child [Trin. Cambr. iewes childe] we fand.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 21696 Mang þe Iuwis lede.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19289 Þe iuwin folc felune.
▸c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 291 If Cristen preestis weren Iewen preestis.
1650 R. Withers tr. O. Bon Descr. Grand Signor's Seraglio 159 In the Kings Seraglio, the Sultanaes are permitted to employ divers Jewes-women about their ordinary occasions.
1. One of the people of Israel; one of the Hebrew people; a Jew.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xi. 22 Thei ben Ysraelitis, and I.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Cor. xi. 22 They are Israelites, euen so am I.
1611 Bible (King James) John i. 47 Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 704 Tears started to the Israelite's eyes.
1865 tr. E. Renan Life of Jesus 7 The assistance..given me for this part of my task by a learned Israelite, M. Neubauer, well versed in Talmudic literature.
1. The people descended from Israel or Jacob, the ‘children of Israel’ collectively; the Jewish or Hebrew nation or people.
c1000 Ælfric Exodus v. 2 Ne can ic Drihten, ne ic nelle forlætan Israela folc.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3449 Moyses tolde ðis israel.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3268 Wende we a-gen, An israel folc lete we ben.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Judges xxi. 25 In tho days was no kyng in Yrael [a1425 Israel].
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xi. 7 The Lorde hath put a difference betwixte Egipte and Israel.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 162 At Tripoli many Jewes and Gentiles had..perished with an Earthquake, whereof died in all Israel twentie thousand.
1878 S. M. Schiller-Szinessy in Academy 606/2 The German Jews, now the most accomplished in all Israel.
The previous citations in chronological order.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xl. 15 Ic wæs dearnunga forstolen of Ebrea lande.
1000c Ælfric Exodus v. 2 Ne can ic Drihten, ne ic nelle forlætan Israela folc.
1175c Lamb. Hom. 9 Alswa hefden þe giwis heore sinagoge.
Before the year 1200, there is one reference each for Hebrew, Israel and Jews.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 136 For iudit on ebrew is scrhif an englisch.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 288 To acwiten ut his leofmon ingywene honden.
1225a Juliana 62 Ant þoledest pinen ant passiun þurh giwes read on rode.
1250c Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 Hi..askede wer was se king of gyus þet was i-bore.
1250c Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 King of geus.
1275c Passion our Lord 351 in Old Eng. Misc. 47 Pilates hym onswerede, am ich Gyv þenne?
There four references to Jews dating from middle of the 13th century
1300a Cursor Mundi 142 O þe Iuus [v.rr. iewes] and moyses.
1300a Cursor Mundi 2179 Al men spak bot wit on tong, þat es hebru, al for to sai.
1300a Cursor Mundi 406 In a dale..þat ebron hatte, in hebru nam.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3268 Wende we a-gen, An israel folc lete we ben.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3449 Moyses tolde ðis israel.
1325c in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 68 Ich holde me vilore þen a Gyw [rhymes bowe, trowe, now].
1340a R. Rolle Psalter xxvii. 5 Þe iowes sloghe crist.
1350c Childh. Jesus 616 (Mätz.) Giwene children feole..Him siweden.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. xl. 15 Theuelich Y am had awey fro the loond of Hebrew [a1425 L.V. Ebrews].
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Judges xxi. 25 In tho days was no kyng in Yrael [a1425 Israel].
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xi. 22 Thei ben Ysraelitis, and I.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 53 Þat he schulde doo þe Iewes [v.r. Iuwes] out of Engelond.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 385 ... was i-poysoned of a Iewe [v.r. Iuw].
1400a Pistill of Susan 2 Þat was a Ieuȝ ientil, and Ioachin he hiht.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19289 Þe iuwin folc felune.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 21696 Mang þe Iuwis lede.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 19129 Þar badd þai iuen suld þaim ȝeme.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 4532 Þar-in a Iuen child [Trin. Cambr. iewes childe] we fand.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 4532 Þerynne a iewes childe we fonde.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 18579 And namely leue her of no iwe For al þus dud þei wiþ ihesu.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11072 It halus bath Iu and sarȝine.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3944 O sinnu etes neuer juu [Gött. ieuu, Trin. Cambr. iew].
1400c Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 All þe Iews..lerez for to speke Hebrew.
1400c Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 Þai can speke na langage bot Ebrew.
1440c Promptorium Parvulorum 266/2 Ive, judeus.
In the 14th century, there are 7 primary references to Jews and five primary references to Hebrews. There are no citations for Israelites.
1449▸c R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 291 If Cristen preestis weren Iewen preestis.
1450c tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. xliii. 114 Not seruaunt, but a veray hebrewe.
1480c (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 59 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 130 ... of hebrow borne ...
1480c (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 66 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 He of hebrow ...
1480c (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 73 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 ... of hebreis þe god Is.
1482 Caxton Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) IV. 369 Þe Iuwes accused Pilatus to Tiberius.
In the 15th century, there is one primary reference for both Hebrew and Jew.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) John xix. 17 A place..which is named in hebrue, Golgatha.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xxiii. f. cxvj, His superscripcion was written over him, in greke, latin, and ebrue letters.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 235/1 Jue a man of jurye, jvif.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 30 Ve prech Iesu Christ crucifeit, sclander to the Iowis and folie to the gentils.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Eiv, As it is writine in the vi chaiptur to the Hebreis.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Cor. xi. 22 They are Israelites, euen so am I.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xi. 7 The Lorde hath put a difference betwixte Egipte and Israel.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. lii, Haue mercy vpon all Iewes, ...
1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxi. 173 Mair nor in Jurie dois the Jow.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xii. 93 Of nature an Hebrew.
In the 16th century, there are 4 primary references for Jew and Hebrew and two for Israelite. Four of the ten quotations are from the Bible (Tyndale or Coverdale).
1600 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 54 Whats his reason, I am a Iewe: Hath not a Iewe eyes.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. i. 7 Turkes Caracters, nor Hebrue Points to seeke.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xvi. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria..draue the Iews from Elath.
1611 Bible (King James) John i. 47 Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 162 At Tripoli many Jewes and Gentiles had... in all Israel twentie thousand.
1615 Bp. J. Hall Imprese of God i, in Recoll. Treat. 656 The Macabees had foure Hebrew letters in their ensigne.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 52 His mother a Iew both by birth and religion.
1616a Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. v. 46 If not, thou art an Hebrew, a Iew...
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 2 In Rome there liued in the Apostles times many Iewes.
1645 Milton Colasterion 2 As if hee knew both Greek and Ebrew.
1650 R. Withers tr. O. Bon Descr. Grand Signor's Seraglio 159 ... divers Jewes-women about their ordinary occasions.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 5 For Hebrew Roots, although th'are found To flourish most in barren ground.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 1319 Thou knowst I am an Ebrew.
In the 17th century, there are five primary references to Jews, four primary references to Hebrews and two primary references to Israelites. In the year 1622, we learn that there were Jews in Rome during Apostolic times. Hebrew was written without the letter "H" as late as 1671.
1710 tr. B. Telles Trav. Jesuits in Ethiopia i. viii. 38 ...there are still many of these Jews...
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i, She shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew.
1776 Gibbon Decline & Fall xv, The same..abhorrence for idolatry which had distinguished the Jews ...
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 704 Tears started to the Israelite's eyes.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 732 The Doctor of the highest reputation for learning, who understood Hebrew, Arabic and the Hindoo Language.
In the 18th century, there are three primary references to Jews.
The following table demonstrates the number of references per century.
A person belonging to the Semitic tribe or nation descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; an Israelite, a Jew. (Historically, the term is usually applied to the early Israelites; in modern use it avoids the religious and other associations often attaching to Jew.)
[OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xl. 15 Ic wæs dearnunga forstolen of Ebrea lande.]
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. xliii. 114 Not seruaunt, but a veray hebrewe.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 73 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 Þare is bot a god but drede, þat of hebreis þe god Is.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Eiv, As it is writine in the vi chaiptur to the Hebreis.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xii. 93 Of nature an Hebrew.
a1616 Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. v. 46 If not, thou art an Hebrew, a Iew, and not worth the name of a Christian.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 1319 Thou knowst I am an Ebrew.
a1832 F. D. Maurice Moral Philos. in Encycl. Metrop. II. 558/1 The difference between the Hebrews and Greeks generally.
†b. Hebrew race or stock. Obs.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. xl. 15 Theuelich Y am had awey fro the loond of Hebrew [a1425 L.V. Ebrews].
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 59 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 130 A madyne com amange þam all of hebrow borne In-to þe land.
c1480 (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 66 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 He of hebrow ves a manne.
The Semitic language spoken by the Hebrews, and in which most of the books of the Old Testament were written; it became extinct in vernacular use three or four centuries b.c., but survived liturgically, and is still cultivated by educated Jews throughout the world.(In the New Testament applied to the Aramaic or Syriac, the vernacular language of the Hebrews of the time.)
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 136 For iudit on ebrew is scrhif an englisch.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 2179 Al men spak bot wit on tong, þat es hebru, al for to sai.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 Þai can speke na langage bot Ebrew.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 All þe Iews..lerez for to speke Hebrew.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) John xix. 17 A place..which is named in hebrue, Golgatha.
1645 Milton Colasterion 2 As if hee knew both Greek and Ebrew.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 732 The Doctor of the highest reputation for learning, who understood Hebrew, Arabic and the Hindoo Language.
1842 J. C. Prichard Nat. Hist. Man 143 Even the language of Numidia is supposed by Gesenius to have been a pure, or nearly pure, Hebrew.
In reference to the language; of persons: learned in Hebrew, as a Hebrew scholar.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 406 In a dale..þat ebron hatte, in hebru nam.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xxiii. f. cxvj, His superscripcion was written over him, in greke, latin, and ebrue letters.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. i. 7 Turkes Caracters, nor Hebrue Points to seeke.
1615 Bp. J. Hall Imprese of God i, in Recoll. Treat. 656 The Macabees had foure Hebrew letters in their ensigne.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 5 For Hebrew Roots, although th'are found To flourish most in barren ground.
1895 W. A. Copinger in Trans. Bibliogr. Soc. 2 ii. 112 Hebrew type is found in a book printed by Fyner, at Esslingen in 1475..but no work was, I believe, wholly printed in this character till 1477.
A person of Hebrew descent; one whose religion is Judaism; an Israelite.Orig. a Hebrew of the kingdom of Judah, as opposed to those of the ten tribes of Israel; later, any Israelite who adhered to the worship of Jehovah as conducted at Jerusalem. Applied comparatively rarely to the ancient nation before the exile (cf. Hebrew n. 1), but the commonest name for contemporary or modern representatives of this group, now spread throughout the world. The word ‘Jew’ is also applied to groups, e.g. the Falashas in Ethiopia, not ethnically related to persons of the main European groups, the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim.
c1275 Passion our Lord 351 in Old Eng. Misc. 47 Pilates hym onswerede, am ich Gyv þenne?
c1325 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 68 Ich holde me vilore þen a Gyw [rhymes bowe, trowe, now].
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 385 Charles Grossus was i-poysoned of a Iewe [v.r. Iuw].
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11072 It halus bath Iu and sarȝine.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3944 O sinnu etes neuer juu [Gött. ieuu, Trin. Cambr. iew].
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 18579 And namely leue her of no iwe For al þus dud þei wiþ ihesu.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 4532 Þerynne a iewes childe we fonde.
a1400 Pistill of Susan 2 Þat was a Ieuȝ ientil, and Ioachin he hiht.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 266/2 Ive, judeus.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 235/1 Jue a man of jurye, jvif.
1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxi. 173 Mair nor in Jurie dois the Jow.
1600 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 54 Whats his reason, I am a Iewe: Hath not a Iewe eyes.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 52 His mother a Iew both by birth and religion.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i, She shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew.
1820 Byron Blues i. 77 You forget Lady Lilac's as rich as a Jew.
1940 W. H. Auden Another Time 116 He [sc. Sigmund Freud] Was taken away from his old interest To go back to the earth in London, An important Jew who died in exile.
1956 I. Murdoch Flight from Enchanter ix. 126 ‘Of course, you realize that I could rescue you with my little finger,’ said Mrs Wingfield. ‘I'm as rich as a Jew!’
Plural.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 9 Alswa hefden þe giwis heore sinagoge.
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 Hi..askede wer was se king of gyus þet was i-bore.
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 King of geus.
a1300 Cursor Mundi 142 O þe Iuus [v.rr. iewes] and moyses.
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xxvii. 5 Þe iowes sloghe crist.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 53 Þat he schulde doo þe Iewes [v.r. Iuwes] out of Engelond.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 19129 Þar badd þai iuen suld þaim ȝeme.
1482 Caxton Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) IV. 369 Þe Iuwes accused Pilatus to Tiberius.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 30 Ve prech Iesu Christ crucifeit, sclander to the Iowis and folie to the gentils.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. lii, Haue mercy vpon all Iewes, Turkes, Infidels, and heretikes.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xvi. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria..draue the Iews from Elath.
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 2 In Rome there liued in the Apostles times many Iewes.
1710 tr. B. Telles Trav. Jesuits in Ethiopia i. viii. 38 Betwixt the Emperor's Dominions and the Cafres..there are still many of these Jews, whom they there call Falaxas, which signifies, Strangers.
1776 Gibbon Decline & Fall xv, The same..abhorrence for idolatry which had distinguished the Jews from the other nations of the ancient world.
Gen. plur.
a1225 Juliana 62 Ant þoledest pinen ant passiun þurh giwes read on rode.
?c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 288 To acwiten ut his leofmon ingywene honden.
c1350 Childh. Jesus 616 (Mätz.) Giwene children feole..Him siweden.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 4532 Þar-in a Iuen child [Trin. Cambr. iewes childe] we fand.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 21696 Mang þe Iuwis lede.
a1400 (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19289 Þe iuwin folc felune.
▸c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 291 If Cristen preestis weren Iewen preestis.
1650 R. Withers tr. O. Bon Descr. Grand Signor's Seraglio 159 In the Kings Seraglio, the Sultanaes are permitted to employ divers Jewes-women about their ordinary occasions.
1. One of the people of Israel; one of the Hebrew people; a Jew.
▸c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xi. 22 Thei ben Ysraelitis, and I.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Cor. xi. 22 They are Israelites, euen so am I.
1611 Bible (King James) John i. 47 Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 704 Tears started to the Israelite's eyes.
1865 tr. E. Renan Life of Jesus 7 The assistance..given me for this part of my task by a learned Israelite, M. Neubauer, well versed in Talmudic literature.
1. The people descended from Israel or Jacob, the ‘children of Israel’ collectively; the Jewish or Hebrew nation or people.
c1000 Ælfric Exodus v. 2 Ne can ic Drihten, ne ic nelle forlætan Israela folc.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3449 Moyses tolde ðis israel.
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3268 Wende we a-gen, An israel folc lete we ben.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Judges xxi. 25 In tho days was no kyng in Yrael [a1425 Israel].
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xi. 7 The Lorde hath put a difference betwixte Egipte and Israel.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 162 At Tripoli many Jewes and Gentiles had..perished with an Earthquake, whereof died in all Israel twentie thousand.
1878 S. M. Schiller-Szinessy in Academy 606/2 The German Jews, now the most accomplished in all Israel.
The previous citations in chronological order.
OE Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xl. 15 Ic wæs dearnunga forstolen of Ebrea lande.
1000c Ælfric Exodus v. 2 Ne can ic Drihten, ne ic nelle forlætan Israela folc.
1175c Lamb. Hom. 9 Alswa hefden þe giwis heore sinagoge.
Before the year 1200, there is one reference each for Hebrew, Israel and Jews.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 136 For iudit on ebrew is scrhif an englisch.
1225?c (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 288 To acwiten ut his leofmon ingywene honden.
1225a Juliana 62 Ant þoledest pinen ant passiun þurh giwes read on rode.
1250c Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 Hi..askede wer was se king of gyus þet was i-bore.
1250c Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 26 King of geus.
1275c Passion our Lord 351 in Old Eng. Misc. 47 Pilates hym onswerede, am ich Gyv þenne?
There four references to Jews dating from middle of the 13th century
1300a Cursor Mundi 142 O þe Iuus [v.rr. iewes] and moyses.
1300a Cursor Mundi 2179 Al men spak bot wit on tong, þat es hebru, al for to sai.
1300a Cursor Mundi 406 In a dale..þat ebron hatte, in hebru nam.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3268 Wende we a-gen, An israel folc lete we ben.
1325a (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 3449 Moyses tolde ðis israel.
1325c in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 68 Ich holde me vilore þen a Gyw [rhymes bowe, trowe, now].
1340a R. Rolle Psalter xxvii. 5 Þe iowes sloghe crist.
1350c Childh. Jesus 616 (Mätz.) Giwene children feole..Him siweden.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Gen. xl. 15 Theuelich Y am had awey fro the loond of Hebrew [a1425 L.V. Ebrews].
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Judges xxi. 25 In tho days was no kyng in Yrael [a1425 Israel].
1384▸c Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. xi. 22 Thei ben Ysraelitis, and I.
1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VIII. 53 Þat he schulde doo þe Iewes [v.r. Iuwes] out of Engelond.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 385 ... was i-poysoned of a Iewe [v.r. Iuw].
1400a Pistill of Susan 2 Þat was a Ieuȝ ientil, and Ioachin he hiht.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 19289 Þe iuwin folc felune.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) l. 21696 Mang þe Iuwis lede.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 19129 Þar badd þai iuen suld þaim ȝeme.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 4532 Þar-in a Iuen child [Trin. Cambr. iewes childe] we fand.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 4532 Þerynne a iewes childe we fonde.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 18579 And namely leue her of no iwe For al þus dud þei wiþ ihesu.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11072 It halus bath Iu and sarȝine.
1400a (▸a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 3944 O sinnu etes neuer juu [Gött. ieuu, Trin. Cambr. iew].
1400c Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 All þe Iews..lerez for to speke Hebrew.
1400c Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xxix. 132 Þai can speke na langage bot Ebrew.
1440c Promptorium Parvulorum 266/2 Ive, judeus.
In the 14th century, there are 7 primary references to Jews and five primary references to Hebrews. There are no citations for Israelites.
1449▸c R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 291 If Cristen preestis weren Iewen preestis.
1450c tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. xliii. 114 Not seruaunt, but a veray hebrewe.
1480c (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 59 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 130 ... of hebrow borne ...
1480c (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 66 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 He of hebrow ...
1480c (▸a1400) St. Thomas Apostle 73 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 131 ... of hebreis þe god Is.
1482 Caxton Trevisa's Higden (Rolls) IV. 369 Þe Iuwes accused Pilatus to Tiberius.
In the 15th century, there is one primary reference for both Hebrew and Jew.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) John xix. 17 A place..which is named in hebrue, Golgatha.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke xxiii. f. cxvj, His superscripcion was written over him, in greke, latin, and ebrue letters.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 235/1 Jue a man of jurye, jvif.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 30 Ve prech Iesu Christ crucifeit, sclander to the Iowis and folie to the gentils.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Eiv, As it is writine in the vi chaiptur to the Hebreis.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Cor. xi. 22 They are Israelites, euen so am I.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Exod. xi. 7 The Lorde hath put a difference betwixte Egipte and Israel.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Celebr. Holye Communion f. lii, Haue mercy vpon all Iewes, ...
1572 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxxi. 173 Mair nor in Jurie dois the Jow.
1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iii. xii. 93 Of nature an Hebrew.
In the 16th century, there are 4 primary references for Jew and Hebrew and two for Israelite. Four of the ten quotations are from the Bible (Tyndale or Coverdale).
1600 Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 54 Whats his reason, I am a Iewe: Hath not a Iewe eyes.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. i. i. 7 Turkes Caracters, nor Hebrue Points to seeke.
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Kings xvi. 6 At that time Rezin king of Syria..draue the Iews from Elath.
1611 Bible (King James) John i. 47 Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage 162 At Tripoli many Jewes and Gentiles had... in all Israel twentie thousand.
1615 Bp. J. Hall Imprese of God i, in Recoll. Treat. 656 The Macabees had foure Hebrew letters in their ensigne.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 52 His mother a Iew both by birth and religion.
1616a Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. v. 46 If not, thou art an Hebrew, a Iew...
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston i. 2 In Rome there liued in the Apostles times many Iewes.
1645 Milton Colasterion 2 As if hee knew both Greek and Ebrew.
1650 R. Withers tr. O. Bon Descr. Grand Signor's Seraglio 159 ... divers Jewes-women about their ordinary occasions.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 5 For Hebrew Roots, although th'are found To flourish most in barren ground.
1671 Milton Samson Agonistes 1319 Thou knowst I am an Ebrew.
In the 17th century, there are five primary references to Jews, four primary references to Hebrews and two primary references to Israelites. In the year 1622, we learn that there were Jews in Rome during Apostolic times. Hebrew was written without the letter "H" as late as 1671.
1710 tr. B. Telles Trav. Jesuits in Ethiopia i. viii. 38 ...there are still many of these Jews...
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i, She shall have a skin like a mummy, and the beard of a Jew.
1776 Gibbon Decline & Fall xv, The same..abhorrence for idolatry which had distinguished the Jews ...
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 704 Tears started to the Israelite's eyes.
1796 H. Hunter tr. J. H. B. de Saint-Pierre Stud. Nature (1799) III. 732 The Doctor of the highest reputation for learning, who understood Hebrew, Arabic and the Hindoo Language.
In the 18th century, there are three primary references to Jews.
The following table demonstrates the number of references per century.
Century
before 1200 14th century 15th century 16th century 17th century 18th century |
Jew
1 5 2 4 5 3 |
Hebrew
1 4 NA 4 4 NA |
Israelite
1 NA NA 2 2 NA |
We can understand from the table that Jew is attested throughout written English history, while Hebrew has no references in the 15th century. Of the five primary references to Israelites, two references dated to the 16th century are from the Bible and one reference form the 17th century is from the Bible. Therefore, there are only two references to Israelites that are extra Biblical.
Due to insufficient information in the English language relating to Hebrews and Israelites, we must conclude that England was unfamiliar with these words and the associated meanings and concepts. Our unsatisfactory attempt to date Hebrews and Israelites is reminiscent of our attempts to date the Orthodox Church and Islam.
Due to insufficient information in the English language relating to Hebrews and Israelites, we must conclude that England was unfamiliar with these words and the associated meanings and concepts. Our unsatisfactory attempt to date Hebrews and Israelites is reminiscent of our attempts to date the Orthodox Church and Islam.