Were Hebrews black

Answer 1

The Hebrews (called Jews today) are not a single skin-color. As in the past, Israelites (Jews) come in differing skin-tones, heights, and body-types. Our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though none of them was really dark-skinned (Rashi commentary on Genesis 12:11).

Abraham and Sarah came from southern Iraq and their wider family from northern Iraq. Since DNA tests have shown that Jews intermarried infrequently throughout history, Abraham and his Israelite descendants probably looked like Jews today.

DNA studies have shown that the Africans are not related to Jews, and that the Jews themselves are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, not African.

In 2000, the analysis of a report by Nicholas Wade "provided genetic witness that Jewish communities have, to a remarkable extent, retained their biological identity separate from their host populations, evidence of relatively little intermarriage or conversion into Judaism over the centuries. The results accord with Jewish history and tradition.

The only exception to this is the Ethiopian Jews, who show only a trace of DNA connection to other Jewish communities. Western ethnologists today hold the view that the Jews of Gondar (Ethiopia) either emerged from a Judaizing strain among Ethiopian Christians, or were converted by Yemeni Jews who crossed the Red Sea. A study by Professors Lucotte and Smets has shown that the genetic father of Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) was close to the Ethiopian non-Jewish populations. This is consistent with the theory that Beta Israel are descendants of ancient inhabitants of Ethiopia, not the Middle East. Hammer et al. in 2000, and the team of Shen in 2004, arrive at similar conclusions, namely that the DNA of the Ethiopian Jews probably indicates a conversion of local populations.

It has been estimated that this happened some 2,000 years ago.

Answer 2

Actually, the earliest Hebrews were black, but somehow, their names were changed to Jewish and was predominately white.

Answer:

The above answer is mistaken. DNA analysis has shown that the Jews are of Middle Eastern stock, from the Fertile Crescent. Quotes from our traditions and commentaries (such as Rashi on Genesis 12:11) show that the Israelites were not Black.

Answer 3

The original egyptians were a dark skinned people and Joseph was an official in Egypt during a time of famine.This fact has been proven archeologically (Google DR. CHEIKH ANTA DIOP).

During which time his brothers were sent to Egypt to buy bread because there was a famine in Canaan where Jacob (Israel) and his other sons lived. When they arived they met Joseph. The brothers did not recognize their brother because he not only was dressed like an Egyptian, but also physically looked like an Egyptian (Gen 42:1-8).

Also, Moses was born a Hebrew and was raised in Pharaoh's household during a time when the Egyptian males were being slaughtered at birth.

Also according to Exodus 2:16-19:

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

So it is obvious that Midian's daughters had mistaken Joseph for an Egyptian.

There is much evidence that the original Hebrews were physically identical to the Egyptians from scripture, archeology, as well as ancient and modern historians and scientist.

On a BBC produced program entitled; THE COMPLETE JESUS, DR. MARK GOODACRE, a bible historian, states:

"Now it's very unlikely that Jesus would have been able to be HIDDEN in Egypt, if he had a very different color of SKIN from the people in Egypt."

I purchased this BBC program and also states that the first Israelites wore afros and had short crop beards.

Answer:

The above is based on conjecture. But actual DNA testing of Jews worldwide shows that they are of Middle Eastern genetics much like the appearance of the Sephardim today, not African or Egyptian. Our own ancient commentaries (such as Rashi on Genesis 12:11) state that the Hebrews were not Black.

ancient Egypt was a major power, and periodically had garrisons in the land of Canaan, so it would be completely understandable for them to have at least some residents of non-Egyptian races. During the famine, people came from everywhere to seek food in Egypt (Genesis 41:57).

Answer 4

Black Jews lived in Ethiopia. Most now live in Israel. In Ancient times, it's likely that Hebrews represented a range of skin tones and colors, just as the Egyptians did.

Answer:

The answer is no. Just as today, Jews (Israelites) came in differing skin-tones, heights, and body-types. Our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though none of them was really dark-skinned (Rashi commentary on Genesis 12:11).
Abraham himself came from Western Asia, and since Jews have intermarried very little in the last 3800 years, the answer is that he probably looked like Jews today.
DNA testing of Jewish communities worldwide has shown that they are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, comparable to the Sephardim today (not African or Egyptian). Our own ancient sources state that the Hebrews were not Black.

Ethiopian Jews are a small number compared to the Jewish people in general; and DNA testing has shown that they are most likely descended from converts.

Answer 5

No. The Israelites were a Semitic race, closely related to the Palestinians and Arabs, and were therefore brown-skinned. There never were any black Israelites. However, converts to Judaism have added variety to the racial characteristics of the modern Jewish population, and this includes the black Ethiopian Jews.

Answer:

The descendants of Jacob were of varying shades and colors, because Israel's twelve sons didn't all have the same mother: they were four groups of "half-brothers." [see Genesis 30]

Jacob's wives were sisters, Rachel and Leah. A kind of rivalry arose between them, and they began to compete as to which could bear Israel [Jacob] more sons. The rivalry grew to include their "handmaids" [Zilpah and Bilhah] serving in an ancient "surrogate" mode.

LEAH bore Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun and Judah.

BILAH [Rachel's handmaid] bore Jacob: Dan and Naphtali.

ZILPAH [Leah's handmaid] bore Jacob: Gad and Asher.

RACHEL finally conceived and bore Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin.

The diverse ancestry of the tribes of Israel made Jacob's twelve sons and their descendants a "colorful" group varying in range anywhere between caucasian white, to dark and swarthy.

For instance, of Jewish King David, The Bible says: "...he was ruddy, and with a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to." (I Sam.16:12) "Ruddy" is "red"... which means he had "red hair" or was "red-faced" [perhaps freckle-faced]... or both.

AnswerYes, the israelites were black!They are the so called African-Americans, along with the other twelve tribes are Cubans, puerto ricans, native Americans, hatians , Mexicans, panamains...King James Version --Duet 28:68- And the Lord (Yahweh) shall bring thee into Egypt(meaning bondage, the land Egypt had a different name in the bible) again with SHIPS, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Though shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be SOLD unto your ENEMIES for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. This verse clearly describes the trans Atlantic slave trade where the so called African Americans were forced into slavery where 99 million did not even make it to America (thrown overboard,killed,etc) The curses in Dueteronomy clearly lay out God's ( or his true Hebrew name Yahweh) chosen people being the so called African Americans in America today. What about these verses as well(rememer the Original King James Version), Songs of Solomon 1:5-I am BLACK, but comely, O y daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar,as the curtains of Soloman. 1:6 Look not upon me, because I am BLACK,because the sun hath looked upon me.... Jeremiah 8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt:I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Also refer to Job 30:30 , Lam 5:10 , Rev.1:14 hair like wool, who are the only people on this planet to have woolen hair!!! Open your mind and eyes to the truth , the truth shall set you free. The biggest mystery and conspiracy on the face of the earth is who the real Chosen people are in the Bible, repent your ways and come back to the truth of Yahweh. Interesting fact, if you read the NEW King James version then you will not find these verses the way I had relayed them because its been changed or erased to hide the chosen people's identity, Psalm 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people , and consulted against thy HIDDEN ONES. 83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a naion:that the name Israel may be no more in remberance. This also answers that the "Jewish" people in Israel of fake khazarain Jews that should no be in that land because Irsael is cut off from being a nation until the convenant is restored and the convenant has not be restored yet.

Answer 6

This is a controversial topic, but it's unlikely that the Ancient Hebrews were of African descent. They were most likely a range of skin tones and races, just like the Jews of today.

There is no scientific evidence that the Hebrews are anything but a Semitic ethnic group. The Black Israelite Churches believe as a fundamental condition of faith, in the claim that the Hebrews were an African ethnicity regardless of the evidence that continually affirms the Semitic nature of the Hebrews (such as documentation from neighboring civilizations). They are certainly entitled to believe whatever they wish to, but these are absurd claims from a historical perspective.

Black Israelite Churches also believe that various American peoples are Hebrews in spite of the facts that many of the peoples they consider to be Israelite Tribes are either wholly or partially mixed with non-Blacks (such as Whites or Native-Americans). This should cause major theological problems since the Black Israelites' claim to be the true Israelites rests on the fact that they were moved by ships and sold in distant lands which did not occur for either Whites or Native-Americans.

No. Just as today, Israelites came in differing skin-tones, heights, and body-types. Our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though none of them was really dark-skinned (Rashi commentary on Genesis 12:11).
Abraham and Sarah came from southern Iraq and their wider family from northern Iraq. Since DNA tests have shown that Jews intermarried infrequently throughout history, Abraham and his Israelite descendants probably looked like Jews today.
DNA testing of Jewish communities worldwide has shown that they are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, comparable to the Sephardim today (not African or Egyptian).
In 2000, the analysis of a report by Nicholas Wade "provided genetic witness that Jewish communities have, to a remarkable extent, retained their biological identity separate from their host populations, evidence of relatively little intermarriage or conversion into Judaism over the centuries. The results accord with Jewish history and tradition."
The only exception to this is the Ethiopian Jews, who show only a trace of DNA connection to other Jewish communities. Western ethnologists today hold the view that the Jews of Gondar (Ethiopia) either emerged from a Judaizing strain among Ethiopian Christians, or were converted by Yemeni Jews who crossed the Red Sea. A study by Professors Lucotte and Smets has shown that the genetic father of Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) was close to the Ethiopian non-Jewish populations. This is consistent with the theory that Beta Israel are descendants of ancient inhabitants of Ethiopia, not the Middle East. Hammer et al. in 2000, and the team of Shen in 2004, arrive at similar conclusions, namely that the DNA of the Ethiopian Jews probably indicates a conversion of local populations.It has been estimated that this happened some 2,000 years ago.

American Black Hebrews:

The beliefs and practices of Black Hebrew groups vary considerably. The differences are so great that historian James Tinney has suggested the classification of the organizations into three quite distinct groups.
Some of these groups are actually Christians, or part-Christians in their beliefs and practices. They have titles such as Church of the Living God, the Church of God and Saints of Christ, and the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ. Others profess beliefs closer to Judaism, such as the Commandment Keepers.
As Judaism sees it, the issue with their claims is that they can produce no generally-accepted evidence of actual Semitic ancestry. These groups created themselves spontaneously within recent history, from within the wider African-American population.
Any African-Americans who choose to become actual Jews through proper conversion are accepted into Judaism.

This is a controversial topic, but it's unlikely that the Ancient Hebrews were of African descent. They were most likely a range of skin tones and races, just like the Jews of today.

Answer 7

There is no scientific evidence that the Hebrews are anything but a Semitic ethnic group. The Black Israelite Churches believe as a fundamental condition of faith, in the claim that the Hebrews were an African ethnicity regardless of the evidence that continually affirms the Semitic nature of the Hebrews (such as documentation from neighboring civilizations). They are certainly entitled to believe whatever they wish to, but these are absurd claims from a historical perspective.

Black Israelite Churches also believe that various American peoples are Hebrews in spite of the facts that many of the peoples they consider to be Israelite Tribes are either wholly or partially mixed with non-Blacks (such as Whites or Native-Americans). This should cause major theological problems since the Black Israelites' claim to be the true Israelites rests on the fact that they were moved by ships and sold in distant lands which did not occur for either Whites or Native-Americans.

Answer 8

No. Just as today, Israelites came in differing skin-tones, heights, and body-types. Our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though none of them was really dark-skinned (Rashi commentary on Genesis 12:11).
Abraham and Sarah came from southern Iraq and their wider family from northern Iraq. Since DNA tests have shown that Jews intermarried infrequently throughout history, Abraham and his Israelite descendants probably looked like Jews today.
DNA testing of Jewish communities worldwide has shown that they are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, comparable to the Sephardim today (not African or Egyptian).
In 2000, the analysis of a report by Nicholas Wade "provided genetic witness that Jewish communities have, to a remarkable extent, retained their biological identity separate from their host populations, evidence of relatively little intermarriage or conversion into Judaism over the centuries. The results accord with Jewish history and tradition."
The only exception to this is the Ethiopian Jews, who show only a trace of DNA connection to other Jewish communities. Western ethnologists today hold the view that the Jews of Gondar (Ethiopia) either emerged from a Judaizing strain among Ethiopian Christians, or were converted by Yemeni Jews who crossed the Red Sea. A study by Professors Lucotte and Smets has shown that the genetic father of Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) was close to the Ethiopian non-Jewish populations. This is consistent with the theory that Beta Israel are descendants of ancient inhabitants of Ethiopia, not the Middle East. Hammer et al. in 2000, and the team of Shen in 2004, arrive at similar conclusions, namely that the DNA of the Ethiopian Jews probably indicates a conversion of local populations.It has been estimated that this happened some 2,000 years ago.

American Black Hebrews:

The beliefs and practices of Black Hebrew groups vary considerably. The differences are so great that historian James Tinney has suggested the classification of the organizations into three quite distinct groups.
Some of these groups are actually Christians, or part-Christians in their beliefs and practices. They have titles such as Church of the Living God, the Church of God and Saints of Christ, and the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ. Others profess beliefs closer to Judaism, such as the Commandment Keepers.
As Judaism sees it, the issue with their claims is that they can produce no generally-accepted evidence of actual Semitic ancestry. These groups created themselves spontaneously within recent history, from within the wider African-American population.
Any African-Americans who choose to become actual Jews through proper conversion are accepted into Judaism.

Answer 9

As in the past, Israelites (Jews) come in differing skin-tones, heights, and body-types. Our tradition is that the twelve sons of Jacob (the 12 Tribes) were not completely similar to each other in appearance, though none of them was really dark-skinned (Rashi commentary on Genesis 12:11).
Abraham and Sarah came from southern Iraq and their wider family from northern Iraq. Since DNA tests have shown that Jews intermarried infrequently throughout history, Abraham and his Israelite descendants probably looked like Jews today.DNA studies have shown that the Africans are not related to Jews, and that the Jews themselves are all interrelated and of Middle Eastern genetics, not African.

In 2000, the analysis of a report by Nicholas Wade "provided genetic witness that Jewish communities have, to a remarkable extent, retained their biological identity separate from their host populations, evidence of relatively little intermarriage or conversion into Judaism over the centuries. The results accord with Jewish history and tradition."

• Link: What race were the Israelites?
  

The only exception to this is the Ethiopian Jews, who show only a trace of DNA connection to other Jewish communities. Western ethnologists today hold the view that the Jews of Gondar (Ethiopia) either emerged from a Judaizing strain among Ethiopian Christians, or were converted by Yemeni Jews who crossed the Red Sea. A study by Professors Lucotte and Smets has shown that the genetic father of Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) was close to the Ethiopian non-Jewish populations. This is consistent with the theory that Beta Israel are descendants of ancient inhabitants of Ethiopia, not the Middle East. Hammer et al. in 2000, and the team of Shen in 2004, arrive at similar conclusions, namely that the DNA of the Ethiopian Jews probably indicates a conversion of local populations.It has been estimated that this happened some 2,000 years ago.

See also the other Related link.

Link: Are the African-Americans from the lost Israelite tribes?

Answer 10

They are originally from Egypt the black ones.