Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of or relating to the Hebrew language: Pertaining to the language historically and currently used by Jewish people.
   • Of or relating to or characteristic of the Hebrews: Pertaining to the people, culture, or traditions of the ancient Hebrews or modern Jewish people.

2. Noun:

   • A member of the Jewish people: A person belonging to the worldwide group connected by descent from the ancient Hebrews or by conversion to Judaism.
   • The Semitic language of the ancient Hebrews: The classical language of the Hebrew Bible, which has been revived as the modern official language of Israel.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The scholar is studying Hebrew grammar. (The scholar is studying the grammar of the Hebrew language.)
  • They visited a museum with Hebrew manuscripts. (They visited a museum containing manuscripts characteristic of Hebrew culture.)

• Noun (Person):

  • She is a Hebrew who observes traditional customs. (She is a Jewish person who follows traditional practices.)
• Noun (Language):
  • He is learning to read ancient Hebrew. (He is learning to read the classical Hebrew language.)
  • Hebrew is spoken in Israel. (The Hebrew language is spoken in Israel.)

Advanced Usage

• Biblical Hebrew: Refers specifically to the form of the Hebrew language found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
  • Biblical Hebrew differs in some aspects from Modern Hebrew.
• Modern Hebrew: Refers to the revived and adapted form of Hebrew used as the everyday language in Israel since the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • The novel was originally written in Modern Hebrew.

Variants and Related Words

• Hebraic (Adjective): An alternative adjective meaning 'of or relating to the Hebrews or their language or culture.'
  • The design features Hebraic symbols.
• Hebraist (Noun): A specialist in Hebrew language and culture.
  • The conference was attended by leading Hebraists.

Synonyms

• Jewish (Adjective, when referring to people/culture): Of or relating to Jews or Judaism.
  • The Hebrew community / The Jewish community. (Note: "Hebrew" in this sense is somewhat archaic or formal; "Jewish" is more common in modern usage for people and culture.)
• Israelite (Noun, historical): A member of the ancient Hebrew nation.

Related Phrases

• Hebrew Bible: The canonical collection of Hebrew scriptures, largely equivalent to the Christian Old Testament.
  • The Hebrew Bible is a central text in Judaism.
• Hebrew calendar: The lunisolar calendar used for Jewish religious observance.
  • The holiday is calculated according to the Hebrew calendar.

Adjective

1. of or relating to the language of the Hebrews
   • Hebrew vowels
2. of or relating to or characteristic of the Hebrews
   • the old Hebrew prophets

Noun

1. a person belonging to the worldwide group claiming descent from Jacob (or converted to it) and connected by cultural or religious ties
2. the ancient Canaanitic language of the Hebrews that has been revived as the official language of Israel