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Because he came from beyond the Jordan river. The Hebrew word for beyond is "evehr" and the Hebrew word for Hebrew is "Ivri."

"Hebrews" (Ivrim) actually means descendants of Eber (Ever). Ever was an ancestor of Abraham (Genesis ch.10-11) and the earliest Hebrews were Abraham's uncles and cousins for several generations back. They were among the Western Semites and lived in northern Mesopotamia, near the confluence of the Balikh and the Euphrates.Abraham himself was called a Hebrew (Genesis ch.14) because of his wider family. Poetically, however, Abraham is called Ivri because the name also translates to "other side." Abraham was figuratively on "the other side" since he was the only monotheist (Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 42:8) until his teachings took root. His ancestors and cousins had slipped into idolatry well before his time, as is evident from Genesis 31:30, 31:53, and Joshua 24:2. For that reason, Jews do not bestow on them the honorific title of ancestors despite the genealogical connection.
We credit Abraham as our first ancestor despite knowing exactly who came before, since it was Abraham who founded our beliefs. Thus, "Hebrews" is often used to mean Abraham and his Israelite descendants, instead of his wider family. In this sense it can refer to the Jewish people.

The word Hebrews can continue to refer to Abraham's descendants until the lifetime of Jacob. After that, we prefer "Israelite," since Jacob was given that name by God (Genesis ch.35), and it is considered a national title; one of honor.



Because he came from beyond the Jordan river. The Hebrew word for beyond is "evehr" and the Hebrew word for Hebrew is "Ivri."

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Where is the first reference to Hebrew found in the Bible?

In Genesis 14 when speaking of Abram (Abraham):Genesis 14:13A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.


Which part of the Jewish bible contains the accounts of Abraham?

You may read of the accounts of Abram who became Abraham in Genesis chapters 11 through 25. He is the first to be called a 'Hebrew.'Genesis 14:13:"A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew."


Was Abraham Hebrew?

GEN 14:13 Abraham was called "the Hebrew" the frist time in the bible in Genesis 14:13


When did Hebrew first appear in the bible?

Not sure if the Question is about the word "Hebrew" or about the language.If it is the word…In the King James version, the first use of the word isGen 14:13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.


Who is the first father of the Hebrews?

Many people feel that it would be Abram (Abraham). He was the father of Isaac, who then became the father of Jacob and Esau. Jacob became the father of twelve sons who became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. Abram was also the first human to be identified scripturally as a "Hebrew" (Genesis 14:13)and a faithful servant of God. (Heb 11:4-9)


What happen in The Bible before Isaac'swasborn?

Genesis 1 and 2: God created the heavens and the Earth, and Adam and Eve Genesis 3: Adam and Eve sin and cause the fall of man. The first messianic prophecy is made. (he will strike your head and you will strike his heal) Genesis 4: Cain kills Abel Genesis 6-8: God instructs Noah to build and ark and floods the earth. Genesis 9: God makes a covenant with Noah to never flood the Earth again. Genesis 11: a few generations after Noah, the people of the world try to build the Tower of Babel and God stops them by giving everyone different languages and causing them to spread out. Genesis 12: God calls Abram, and Abram gets his wife Sarai to lie for him in Egypt. Genesis: 13-14: Abram separates from his nephew Lot and when war finds Lot, Abram rescues him. Genesis 15: Abram makes a covenant with God, where God promises Abram an heir, and makes a prophecy. Genesis16: Abram sleeps with Hagar at Sarai's request and Ishmael is born. Genesis 17: God changes Abram's name to Abraham and they make the covenant of circumcision. Genesis 18: Three visitors arrive that promise Abraham a son. Abraham pleads on behalf of the righteous in Sodom. Genesis 19: Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, but God saves Lot. Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt. Genesis 20: Abraham gets Sarah to pretend to be his sister again and is rebuked by Abimelech. Genesis 21: Isaac is born.


Did Abraham refer to the Hebrews as his people?

The Torah refers to Abraham as being a Hebrew (Genesis 14:13).


What language did Abraham speak?

"...Abram THE HEBREW..." (Gen.14:13) grandson of "Eber" [or "Heber"] the father of the "Hebrews" -- probably spoke "Hebrew."


What is a word that has to do with the hebrews that starts with the letter h?

The word you are after is 'habiru' (for example, in Genesis 14:13 translated as 'Hebrew'):-Gen 14:13A fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and Aner. (All these were allied by treaty with Abram.)However, the word 'habiru' does not apply exclusively to the children of Israel, but refers to any moving tribe, (such as the Israelites were after leaving Egypt).The word comes from 'Eber', the great-grandson of Shem and a direct descendant of Abraham; however, it also refers to other descendants of Eber from his son Joktan, as he was the ancestor of many tribes in Arabia, and Abraham himself had other descendants apart from the Israelites.


When was the name Hebrew first used for the Israelites?

Genesis 14:13 וַיָּבֹא, הַפָּלִיט, וַיַּגֵּד, לְאַבְרָם הָעִבְרִי; וְהוּא שֹׁכֵן בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא הָאֱמֹרִי, אֲחִי אֶשְׁכֹּל וַאֲחִי עָנֵר, וְהֵם, בַּעֲלֵי בְרִית-אַבְרָם.And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; now he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate with Abram.


Who is Eber in The Bible?

Eber was the descendant of Shem from whom Abraham's people descended and from whom the name "HEBREW" is derived.Eber begat Peleg; Peleg, Reu; Reu, Serug; Serug, Nahor; Nahor, Terah... and Terah, Abram -- [Gen.11:16-27]."...there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the HEBREW [the descendant of EBER]..." (Gen.14:13).


When did Abram Ioffe die?

Abram Ioffe died on October 14, 1960 at the age of 79.