This post is in response to the thread "WHAT Is a Jew". I am going to begin with a few definitions/descriptions from other writers which includes a list of Biblical references.
JEWS, JEWISH
Also see the return of Israel from exile | Israel, the divided kingdom | Others call them Hebrews
JEWS, JEWISH REMNANT in scriptures [BibleGateway Search]
JEWS, JEWISH [Easton Bible Dictionary]
JEW, JEWS [Smith Bible Dictionary]
JEWS [ISBE]
JEWS [Thompson Chain Reference]
# Captivity of * Foretold o Deuteronomy 28:36 o 1 Kings 14:15 o Isaiah 39:7 o Jeremiah 13:19 o Amos 7:11 o Luke 21:24 o (Dispersion) * Fulfilment of Prophecies Concerning o 2 Kings 15:29 o 2 Kings 17:6 o 2 Kings 18:11 o 2 Kings 24:14 o 2 Kings 25:11 o 2 Chronicles 28:5 o (Jerusalem) # Calamities of * 1 Kings 14:25 * 2 Kings 14:13 * 2 Kings 16:5 * 2 Kings 24:10 * 2 Chronicles 25:23 * Psalms 79:1 * Lamentations 1:1 * (Lamentations) * (Captivity of Israel and Judah) * (Temple) # Called God's People * (General References to) * A peculiar treasure o Exodus 19:5 * Chosen by Jehovah o Deuteronomy 14:2 * Exalted above all nations o Deuteronomy 26:19 o 1 Samuel 12:22 o Psalms 29:11 * Guided like a flock o Psalms 78:52 o Psalms 100:3 * Prepared for service o Luke 1:17 o Acts 15:14 * Characterized by zeal o Titus 2:14 * The law written upon their hearts o Hebrews 8:10 o 2 Timothy 2:10 o Revelation 21:3 # Dispersion of * Leviticus 26:33 * Nehemiah 1:8 * Esther 3:8 * Psalms 44:11 * Ezekiel 6:8 * Ezekiel 36:19 * John 7:35 * James 1:1 * (Captivity of Israel and Judah) # Persecution of Paul * Acts 9:29 * Acts 13:50 * Acts 14:5 * Acts 14:19 * Acts 16:22 * Acts 18:12 * Acts 21:36 * Acts 22:22 * Acts 23:10 * 1 Corinthians 4:12 * 2 Corinthians 4:9 * 2 Corinthians 11:24 * 2 Timothy 2:9 * 2 Timothy 3:11 * (Suffering for Christ's Sake) # Persecuted * 2 Kings 16:6 * Esther 3:13 * Psalms 74:8 * Psalms 83:4 * Daniel 3:8 * Acts 16:20 * Acts 18:2 # Return of * Deuteronomy 30:3 * Isaiah 11:11 * Jeremiah 16:15 * Jeremiah 23:3 * Zephaniah 3:20 * Zechariah 10:10 * (Restoration) # Seek to Introduce their Doctrines * The Doctrines of, Sought to be Introduced into the Christian Church by certain men * Acts 15:1 * Acts 15:24 * Galatians 2:4 * Galatians 6:12 # Israel * SEE Israel
JEWS, JEWISH
Also see the return of Israel from exile | Israel, the divided kingdom | Others call them Hebrews
JEWS, JEWISH REMNANT in scriptures [BibleGateway Search]
JEWS, JEWISH [Easton Bible Dictionary]
The name derived from the patriarch Judah, at first given to one belonging to the tribe of Judah or to the separate kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 16:6; 25:25; Jeremiah 32:12; 38:19; 40:11; 41:3), in contradistinction from those belonging to the kingdom of the ten tribes, who were called Israelites.
During the Captivity, and after the Restoration, the name, however, was extended to all the Hebrew nation without distinction (Esther 3:6,10; Daniel 3:8,12; Ezra 4:12; 5:1,5).
Originally this people were called Hebrews (Genesis 39:14; 40:15; Exodus 2:7; 3:18; 5:3; 1 Samuel 4:6,9, etc.), but after the Exile this name fell into disuse. But Paul was styled a Hebrew (2 Corinthians 11:22; Phil 3:5).
The history of the Jewish nation is interwoven with the history of Palestine and with the narratives of the lives of their rulers and chief men. They are now [1897] dispersed over all lands, and to this day remain a separate people, "without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image [RSV 'pillar,' marg. 'obelisk'], and without an ephod, and without teraphim" (Hosea 3:4). Till about the beginning of the present century [1800] they were everywhere greatly oppressed, and often cruelly persecuted; but now their condition is greatly improved, and they are admitted in most European countries to all the rights of free citizens. In 1860 the "Jewish disabilities" were removed, and they were admitted to a seat in the British Parliament. Their number in all is estimated at about six millions, about four millions being in Europe.
There are three names used in the New Testament to designate this people,
During the Captivity, and after the Restoration, the name, however, was extended to all the Hebrew nation without distinction (Esther 3:6,10; Daniel 3:8,12; Ezra 4:12; 5:1,5).
Originally this people were called Hebrews (Genesis 39:14; 40:15; Exodus 2:7; 3:18; 5:3; 1 Samuel 4:6,9, etc.), but after the Exile this name fell into disuse. But Paul was styled a Hebrew (2 Corinthians 11:22; Phil 3:5).
The history of the Jewish nation is interwoven with the history of Palestine and with the narratives of the lives of their rulers and chief men. They are now [1897] dispersed over all lands, and to this day remain a separate people, "without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image [RSV 'pillar,' marg. 'obelisk'], and without an ephod, and without teraphim" (Hosea 3:4). Till about the beginning of the present century [1800] they were everywhere greatly oppressed, and often cruelly persecuted; but now their condition is greatly improved, and they are admitted in most European countries to all the rights of free citizens. In 1860 the "Jewish disabilities" were removed, and they were admitted to a seat in the British Parliament. Their number in all is estimated at about six millions, about four millions being in Europe.
There are three names used in the New Testament to designate this people,
# Jews, as regards their nationality, to distinguish them from Gentiles.
# Hebrews, with regard to their language and education, to distinguish them from Hellenists, i.e., Jews who spoke the Greek language.
# Israelites, as respects their sacred privileges as the chosen people of God. "To other races we owe the splendid inheritance of modern civilization and secular culture; but the religious education of mankind has been the gift of the Jew alone."
# Hebrews, with regard to their language and education, to distinguish them from Hellenists, i.e., Jews who spoke the Greek language.
# Israelites, as respects their sacred privileges as the chosen people of God. "To other races we owe the splendid inheritance of modern civilization and secular culture; but the religious education of mankind has been the gift of the Jew alone."
JEW, JEWS [Smith Bible Dictionary]
(a man of Judea). This name was properly applied to a member of the kingdom of Judah after the separation of the ten tribes. The term first makes it appearance just before the captivity of the ten tribes. (2 Kings 16:6)
After the return the word received a larger application. Partly from the predominance of the members of the old kingdom of Judah among those who returned to Palestine, partly from the identification of Judah with the religious ideas and hopes of the people, all the members of the new state were called Jews (Judeans) and the name was extended to the remnants of the race scattered throughout the nations. Under the name of "Judeans" the people of Israel were known to classical writers. (Tac. H. v.2, etc.)
The force of the title "Jew" is seen particularly in the Gospel of St. John, who very rarely uses any other term to describe the opponents of our Lord. At an earlier stage of the progress of the faith it was contrasted with Greek as implying an outward covenant with God, (Romans 1:16; 2:9,10; Colossians 3:11) etc., which was the correlative of Hellenist [HELLENIST], and marked a division of language subsisting within the entire body, and at the same time less expressive than Israelite, which brought out with especial clearness the privileges and hopes of the children of Jacob. (2 Corinthians 11:22; John 1:47)
After the return the word received a larger application. Partly from the predominance of the members of the old kingdom of Judah among those who returned to Palestine, partly from the identification of Judah with the religious ideas and hopes of the people, all the members of the new state were called Jews (Judeans) and the name was extended to the remnants of the race scattered throughout the nations. Under the name of "Judeans" the people of Israel were known to classical writers. (Tac. H. v.2, etc.)
The force of the title "Jew" is seen particularly in the Gospel of St. John, who very rarely uses any other term to describe the opponents of our Lord. At an earlier stage of the progress of the faith it was contrasted with Greek as implying an outward covenant with God, (Romans 1:16; 2:9,10; Colossians 3:11) etc., which was the correlative of Hellenist [HELLENIST], and marked a division of language subsisting within the entire body, and at the same time less expressive than Israelite, which brought out with especial clearness the privileges and hopes of the children of Jacob. (2 Corinthians 11:22; John 1:47)
JEWS [ISBE]
ju, joo, ju'-ish, joo'-ish (yehudhi plural yehudhim; Ioudaioi; feminine adjective yehudhith; Ioudaikos):
"Jew" denotes originally an inhabitant of Judah (2 Kings 16:6 applies to the two tribes of the Southern Kingdom), but later the meaning was extended to embrace all descendants of Abraham.
In the Old Testament the word occurs a few times in the singular. (Esther 2:5; 3:4, etc.; Jeremiah 34:9; Zechariah 8:23); very frequently in the plural in Ezra and Nehemiah, Esther, and in Jeremiah and Daniel. The adjective in the Old Testament applies only to the "Jews' language" or speech (2 Kings 18:26,28 parallel Nehemiah 13:24; Isaiah 36:11,13).
"Jews" (always plural) is the familiar term for Israelites in the Gospels (especially in John), Acts, Epistles, etc.
"Jewess" occurs in 1 Chronicles 4:18; Acts 16:1; 24:24.
In Titus 1:14 a warning is given against "Jewish fables" (in Greek the adjective is found also in Galatians 2:14).
The "Jews' religion" (Ioudaismos) is referred to in Galatians 1:13-14. On the "Jews' language,'' see LANGUAGES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ; on the "Jews' religion," see ISRAEL ,RELIGION OF.
James OrrIn the Old Testament the word occurs a few times in the singular. (Esther 2:5; 3:4, etc.; Jeremiah 34:9; Zechariah 8:23); very frequently in the plural in Ezra and Nehemiah, Esther, and in Jeremiah and Daniel. The adjective in the Old Testament applies only to the "Jews' language" or speech (2 Kings 18:26,28 parallel Nehemiah 13:24; Isaiah 36:11,13).
"Jews" (always plural) is the familiar term for Israelites in the Gospels (especially in John), Acts, Epistles, etc.
"Jewess" occurs in 1 Chronicles 4:18; Acts 16:1; 24:24.
In Titus 1:14 a warning is given against "Jewish fables" (in Greek the adjective is found also in Galatians 2:14).
The "Jews' religion" (Ioudaismos) is referred to in Galatians 1:13-14. On the "Jews' language,'' see LANGUAGES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ; on the "Jews' religion," see ISRAEL ,RELIGION OF.
JEWS [Thompson Chain Reference]
# Captivity of * Foretold o Deuteronomy 28:36 o 1 Kings 14:15 o Isaiah 39:7 o Jeremiah 13:19 o Amos 7:11 o Luke 21:24 o (Dispersion) * Fulfilment of Prophecies Concerning o 2 Kings 15:29 o 2 Kings 17:6 o 2 Kings 18:11 o 2 Kings 24:14 o 2 Kings 25:11 o 2 Chronicles 28:5 o (Jerusalem) # Calamities of * 1 Kings 14:25 * 2 Kings 14:13 * 2 Kings 16:5 * 2 Kings 24:10 * 2 Chronicles 25:23 * Psalms 79:1 * Lamentations 1:1 * (Lamentations) * (Captivity of Israel and Judah) * (Temple) # Called God's People * (General References to) * A peculiar treasure o Exodus 19:5 * Chosen by Jehovah o Deuteronomy 14:2 * Exalted above all nations o Deuteronomy 26:19 o 1 Samuel 12:22 o Psalms 29:11 * Guided like a flock o Psalms 78:52 o Psalms 100:3 * Prepared for service o Luke 1:17 o Acts 15:14 * Characterized by zeal o Titus 2:14 * The law written upon their hearts o Hebrews 8:10 o 2 Timothy 2:10 o Revelation 21:3 # Dispersion of * Leviticus 26:33 * Nehemiah 1:8 * Esther 3:8 * Psalms 44:11 * Ezekiel 6:8 * Ezekiel 36:19 * John 7:35 * James 1:1 * (Captivity of Israel and Judah) # Persecution of Paul * Acts 9:29 * Acts 13:50 * Acts 14:5 * Acts 14:19 * Acts 16:22 * Acts 18:12 * Acts 21:36 * Acts 22:22 * Acts 23:10 * 1 Corinthians 4:12 * 2 Corinthians 4:9 * 2 Corinthians 11:24 * 2 Timothy 2:9 * 2 Timothy 3:11 * (Suffering for Christ's Sake) # Persecuted * 2 Kings 16:6 * Esther 3:13 * Psalms 74:8 * Psalms 83:4 * Daniel 3:8 * Acts 16:20 * Acts 18:2 # Return of * Deuteronomy 30:3 * Isaiah 11:11 * Jeremiah 16:15 * Jeremiah 23:3 * Zephaniah 3:20 * Zechariah 10:10 * (Restoration) # Seek to Introduce their Doctrines * The Doctrines of, Sought to be Introduced into the Christian Church by certain men * Acts 15:1 * Acts 15:24 * Galatians 2:4 * Galatians 6:12 # Israel * SEE Israel