What Is The Difference Between An Israelite And A Jew?

Asher Chee |

Today, the terms Israelite and Jew are often used interchangeably. However, is this the correct way to use these terms? What do they mean? Do they really mean the same things? Are there any differences between them?

Israelite vs. Israeli

Let us begin with two terms that are commonly confused: Israelite and Israeli. Both terms come from the Hebrew name for “Israel”, Yiśrāʾēl (יִשְׂרָאֵל), which originated from a story in the Bible where Jacob wrestled with a man (Gen. 32:24–28).

In English, the term Israeli refers to a citizen of the modern state of Israel which was established on 14 May 1948. Thus, before that time, there was no such thing as an Israeli. On the other hand, the term Israelite refers to a descendant of Jacob.

Interestingly, the Hebrew terms for “Israelite”, Yiśrəʾēliy, appear only four times in the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament), all in only one passage:

Leviticus 24:10–11 And the son of an Israelite [Yiśrəʾēliyṯ] woman went out, and he was the son of an Egyptian man among the children of Israel, and they disputed in the camp of the son of an Israelitess [Yiśrəʾēliyṯ] and an Israelite [Yiśrəʾēliy] man. And the son of the Israelite [Yiśrəʾēliyṯ] woman blasphemed the name and cursed. And they brought him to Moses, and the name of his mother is Shelomith daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan.

In every other place where the term “Israelites” occurs in English Bible translations, it is translating the Hebrew expression bənēy Yiśrāʾēl, “children of Israel”.

In the Apostolic (“New Testament”) Scriptures, the equivalent Greek word for “Israelite”, Israēlitēs, occurs nine times (John 1:47; Acts 2:22; 3:12; 5:35; 13:16; 21:28; Romans 9:4; 11:1; 2 Corinthians 11:22).

Jew = “Judahite; of Judah”

The term “Jew” comes from the Hebrew word Yəhūwḏiy (יְהוּדִי), which is related to the Hebrew name for “Judah”, Yəhūwḏāh (יְהוּדָה). Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and his descendants formed the Tribe of Judah.

Actually, Yəhūwḏiy means Judahite, or “from Judah”, in the same sense that an Israelite is “from Israel”, a Benjaminite is “from Benjamin”, a Bethlehemite is “from Bethlehem”, and a Moabite is “from Moab”. In Greek, the equivalent term for Yəhūwḏiy is Ioudaios (Ἰουδαῖος).

Both Yəhūwḏiy and Ioudaios should be rendered consistently as “Judahite” because it bears more resemblance to the name “Judah”. However, in English Bible translations, Yəhūwḏiy and Ioudaios have been variously rendered inconsistently. Notice how Yəhūwḏiy is inconsistently rendered in the English Standard Version (ESV):

Yəhūwḏiy/Ioudaios as national identity

When King Solomon died in 931 BCE, the United Kingdom of Israel became divided into two separate kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Subsequently, the word Yəhūwḏiy came to refer to people from the land formerly occupied by the Southern Kingdom of Judah, regardless of which tribe he was from. For example, Esther 2:5 says:

Now there was a Jew [Yəhūwḏiy] in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite. (ESV)

Mordecai was a Benjaminite, a member of the Tribe of Benjamin. Yet, in the biblical text, he was still called a Yəhūwḏiy because he came from the land of the former Kingdom of Judah.

Even up to the time of Jesus, the term Yəhūwḏiy, and its Greek equivalent term Ioudaios, continued to retain this significance of national identity. That is why the historical dualism between the natural people of God and the other peoples was expressed as “Jew vs. Gentile” rather than “Israelite vs. Gentile.” Like Mordecai, the Apostle Paul was from the Tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5), yet he identified himself as a Ioudaios (Acts 21:39; 22:3).

Jewish true-Israelitism

In addition to that, Ioudaios had also taken on the significance of religious identity, referring to a person who practiced the religion of the land of Judah; i.e., Judaism. This means that a person who was not born a Ioudaios could become a Ioudaios through conversion.

From the perspective of those who identified themselves as Ioudaioi, to be a Ioudaios means to be a true Israelite, over against other false claims of being Israelite. For example, the Samaritans thought themselves to be truly Israelite in terms of descent and doctrine, but because of their doctrinal differences and their historical hostility, a clear distinction was drawn between them and the Ioudaioi (John 4:9).

Christian true-Israelitism

The Apostle Paul used this concept of Ioudaios as “true Israelite” to explain that Christians—who become the people of God through faith—are the true Israel; the true people of God:

Romans 2:28–29 ESV For no one is a Jew [Ioudaios] who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew [Ioudaios] is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Romans 9:6 ESV But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.

Philippians 3:3 ESV For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

Galatians 6:15–16 ESV For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Notice how Paul spoke about being a Ioudaios interchangeably with being an Israelite. In Romans 2:28–29, he equated being a Ioudaios with being circumcised; yet it was not just the Tribe of Judah that was commanded by God to be circumcised, but all of Israel (Leviticus 12:3)! That is why, in Galatians 6:15–16, Paul could relate the matter of circumcision and uncircumcision with the “Israel of God”.

Paul’s consistent message is that, in order to be truly part of the people of God, one must be a true Jew, as opposed to an outward-only Jew (Romans 2:28–29), be of the true circumcision, as opposed to the flesh-only circumcision (Philippians 3:3), and belong to the true Israel, as opposed to the descent-only Israel (Romans 9:6), which is the true Israel of God, as opposed to the natural-only Israel of God (Galatians 6:15–16). In the Book of Revelation, God refers to people who “call themselves Jews [Ioudaioi], but [actually; in reality] are not.” (Revelation 3:9)

Conclusion

Today, the terms Israelite and Jew are synonymous, and may be used interchangeably. However, it is important to note that this was not always the case. The Hebrew term for “Jew”, Yəhūwḏiy, was initially used for people from the land of Judah. Later on, Yəhūwḏiy came to refer to any Israelite, and even took on the significance of religious identity. That was how the term Jew came to refer both to the biblical Israelites, and to those who claim to practice their religion.

Summary