יְהוּדִי (ye.hu.di)
ye.hu.di
Jew
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 66 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The word yehudi identifies a person as a Jew, derived directly from the name Judah. In its earliest biblical appearances, such as in Kings, it referred specifically to someone from the southern kingdom of Judah or a descendant of that tribe. This geographical and tribal origin distinguishes it from broader terms for Israelite identity.
As history progressed, particularly after the exile, the term expanded to encompass any member of the people of God, regardless of their original tribal lineage. The sources note this shift in books like Jeremiah and Nehemiah, where yehudi is used interchangeably with other identifiers for the community. It became the standard label for the surviving Jewish population during the Persian period.
The book of Esther provides some of the most vivid examples of this usage. Characters like Mordecai are explicitly called Jews, and the narrative centers on the fate of this group within the empire. The word carries significant weight in these stories, marking a distinct identity that faces both persecution and deliverance. It remains the primary Hebrew term for Jewish people throughout the later biblical texts.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yehudi traces its roots back to Judah, originally marking someone from the southern kingdom or tribe. Over time, it grew to represent the entire people of God, surviving exile and dispersion. This shift shows how identity in Scripture is not just about geography but about a shared covenant with God.
When we read stories like Esther, where Mordecai stands firm as a Jew against overwhelming odds, we see that this label carries weight. It signifies a community chosen to preserve God’s promises through history. Your own faith connects you to this long line of believers who trusted God even when their world felt unstable.
This word reminds us that belonging to God is a journey of endurance and hope. Just as the Jews in Babylon found deliverance, you can trust that God remains faithful to His people today. You are part of a story much larger than yourself, held securely in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 66 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Jews45×
- the/ Jew6×
- to the/ Jews4×
- and/ the/ Jews3×
- Jews3×
- for the/ Jews2×
- [belonged] to the/ Jews2×
- Jewish2×
- on the/ Jews1×
- of the/ Jews1×
- by/ a Jew1×
- and/ to the/ Jews1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/יְּהוּדִ֔ים7×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִים֙6×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִ֗ים5×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִֽים\׃4×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִ֡ים4×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִ֜ים4×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִ֖ים4×
- לַ/יְּהוּדִ֔ים3×
- לַ/יְּהוּדִים֙2×
- יְהוּדִ֕ים2×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִ֣ים2×
- הַ/יְּהוּדִ֛ים2×
Key Verses
-
Esther 2:5
There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
This verse introduces Mordecai as a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, showing how the term encompassed people from various tribes within the southern identity.
-
Esther 3:6
But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people.
Haman’s plot to destroy all Jews highlights how the word defined a distinct group facing existential threat in a foreign empire.
-
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Mordecai uses this identity to explain Esther’s divine purpose, linking her personal position to the survival of the Jewish people.
-
Nehemiah 5:8
I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found not a word to say.
Nehemiah appeals to their shared identity as redeemed brothers to correct internal social injustices within the community.