Israelites

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Pronunciations

Israelites (IZ-ree-uh-lytes) listen

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Definitions

  • n. An ancient term for the Jewish people.

Example Sentences

  • "While Modern Jews are descendants of the ancient Israelites it is worth noting that Rabbinical Judaism is wholly different than temple Judaism, the change happened shortly after the 2nd temple was destroyed." (source)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • English

Etymology

  • ultimately from Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל

      • Who Uses This

      • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education
      • Non-Jews: (words that have spread outside of Jewish networks)

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).
      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

      Alternative Spellings

      Israelite

Notes

  • "In ancient times, these descendants of Jacob inhabited the land then known as Canaan, which is present-day Israel." (JPS)

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