Why were the Isrealite's later referred to as Jews?

Answer 1

The Bible says that the Hebrew people were descended from the Patriarch Israel. The people were therefore called Israelites. Some secular answers are also possible. After all, if the people were always called Israelites, then they would probably never have been called Hebrews. The Hebrews came to occupy two separate nations, Israel and Judah. Some scholars, such as the archaeologist Israel Finklestein, say these nations were always separate, and that there was never a united Hebrew kingdom under David and Solomon. After the northern kingdom, Israel, fell to the Assyrians, many refugees fled south into Judah. There is some evidence that, faced with this massive influx, the kings of Judah attempted to create a sense of national unity, not only in the religious reforms they undertook, but also by referring to all the people as 'Israelites'. This view would say that the Hebrew people eventually became known as Israelites out of political necessity in the eighth century BCE.

Answer 2

The word "Jew" comes from "Judaism" which comes from the name Judah, which is also the name of one of the 12 Jewish tribes. The reason for this is that at one point in history (some 2500 years ago) the majority of the other Israelite tribes were exiled to points unknown, so that most Israelites today are descendants of Judah; hence "Jews."

Answer 3

Abraham was the first to be mentioned as a Hebrew in Genesis. Many think this is from his ancestor, Eber (4th Great Grandfather, from the line of Shem).

Genesis 14:13New King James Version (NKJV)

13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre.

Later, Abraham's grandson, Jacob had his name changed to Israel and had 12 sons. The fourth son was Judah. It was during or soon after the Babylonian captivity of 586 BC, that the descendants of Judah became known as Jews.

So all Jews are Hebrews but not all Hebrews are Jews.

Answer 4

"Jew" comes from Judah, one of the twelve Jewish tribes, who today constitutes the majority of the Jews. The first recorded instance of Isrealites being referred to as Jews regardless of tribal affiliation is in the Book of Esther.

Answer 5

It is a short form of Judaean. It comes from the tradition that modern Jews are mostly descended from the Tribe of Judah. See also:

Are Hebrews, Jews and Israelites the same people?

Answer 6

Becuase they lived in Israel and Israel is their promised land. (Promised to them by God)

Answer 7

"Jews" comes from Judah, one of the sons of Jacob. Most Jews today are of the tribe of Judah.

Answer 8

Because they were from Judea.

Answer 9

The first use of "Jews" (or the Hebrew word Yehudi) to refer to Jews in the modern sense, is in the book of Esther, Chapter 2 verse 5, where Mordechai is described as a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin. Before this, the word Yehudi meant either from the Kingdom of Judah or from the tribe of Judah. Esther is set during or not too many decades after the Babylonian exile, possibly under King Xerxes.