What does hibyru in ancient world mean?

Answer 1

I assume you are referring to the Haribu, mentioned in the Amarna letters. These letters were sent from Canaan to the Egyptian Pharaoh, their overlord, when they complained about the difficulties the Haribu were causing them.

The Haribu appear in many sources, and the name probably refer to stateless nomadic people, sometimes just unattached poor people, sometimes troublesome warriors, depending on the situation. It is possible that it was pejorative.

It is possible that the name Hebrew has come from Haribu, on the basis that this name was given to all the slaves and stateless people living in the delta region of Egypt, particularly those who were nomadic shepherds, as the Israelites are depicted in Genesis and Exodus. This name comes into focus in the story of the Pharaoh wanting to kill the "Hebrew" boys, to reduce their numbers, and their threat to Egyptian power, and therefore fits quite well. It was not a name that is necessarily restricted to the Israelites, even though it is used in that way today.