Hebrew is not another word for Jewish. It’s not
being born to a specific bloodline. And it is not just a language to speak. Hebrew
is a step you can choose to take; a lifestyle that you can live.
The first time ‘Hebrew’ appears Biblically is in
Genesis 14:13, referring to, “Abram the Hebrew.”
‘Hebrew’
is Strong’s number 5680 and means ‘one from beyond’ or ‘one who has crossed
over.’ In Hebrew, the word is spelled: עִבְרִי
Crossing over. Hebrew is an action.
Abram was called a Hebrew after he left his father's house, in his home city of Ur. YHWH told him to leave all that was familiar behind. Abram was obedient to YHWH and then was given this title.
What did Abram cross over from? Joshua 24:2 says that his father, Terah, worshipped other gods, and it's probably safe to say he wasn't the only member of the community to do so. Abram left idol worship and a culture that was disobedient to the Living God, and he crossed over to things of YHWH.
The Creator has called all of us to become Hebrews. To leave behind society's norms, and the man-made traditions of Judaism and Christianity to cross over into what Scripture actually says.
Abraham wasn't born a Hebrew. He became it when he left his own ways to follow YHWH's. You can become one too.
