GOD WAS HONORED to be associated with the children of Abraham— “the others” or those from the other side. The term was also used for “wanderers” and "passing through". Abraham was a nomadic tribe. The word Hebrew was first mention directly with Abraham in Genesis 14:13 KJV:
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.
AT THIS POINT in history "Abram the Hebrew” was probably referring to him as a “wanderer”. All the other names listed in Chapter 14 are attached to geographical locations - Genesis 14: 1-2 KJV:
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.
BUT ABRAHAM did not identify himself with his homeland Ur of the Chaldea, a city in Mesopotamia.
However, Abram came out from among them and disassociated himself from them — and apparently he took the term Hebrew as a badge of honor.
IN EXODUS 3:18 through Moses to Pharaoh He said,”I am the God of the Hebrews— those “other” people “from the other side” those who are disconnected from the world’s system and set apart. We would say even to this day — those from the other side of the tracks. In ancient times — “the river”. More specifically the Euphrates River.
HEBREW WAS A DEROGATORY TERM with the Egyptians and it was said by Potiphar’s wife about Joseph after she falsely accused him of rape.
She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. 17 Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. 18”But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!” — Genesis 39:17 NLT.
THE NEW TESTAMENT gives more light on the word Hebrew at least in spirit - the phrase is PASSING THROUGH.
All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth — Hebrews 11:13 NLT.
The King James Version uses the words— “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
In modern vernacular we could just as easily say “they identified themselves as aliens just passing through this world”.
THAT IS TE SPIRIT the word Hebrew and so it is with us in Christ Jesus— we are NOT of this world, we are passing through as pilgrims on our way home.
SOURCE LINKS
Hebrew (adj.)
late Old English, from Old French Ebreu, from Latin Hebraeus, from Greek Hebraios, from Aramaic (Semitic) 'ebhrai, corresponding to Hebrew 'ibhri "an Israelite." Traditionally from an ancestral name Eber, but probably literally "one from the other side," perhaps in reference to the River Euphrates, or perhaps simply signifying "immigrant;" from 'ebher"region on the other or opposite side." The initial H-was restored in English from 16c. As a noun from c. 1200, "the Hebrew language;" late 14c. in reference to persons, originally "a biblical Jew, Israelite."