Jewish

In the Bible, the term "Jewish" is primarily associated with the people of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name "Jew" itself is derived from "Judah" (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה, Yehudah), which was one of the prominent tribes after the kingdom of Israel split into two (the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah) around 931 BCE. Over time, the term began to encompass all members of the Israelite community, particularly after the Babylonian exile, when the identity of the Jewish people became more defined in relation to their heritage, laws, and cultural practices.In the New Testament, the term "Jew" often signifies not only ethnic identity but also adherence to the Jewish faith. For example, in John 4:22, Jesus states, "Salvation is from the Jews," indicating the importance of Jewish heritage in the context of God's plan for salvation. The Apostle Paul also refers to his Jewish identity in Romans 11:1, emphasizing the continued relevance of the Jewish people in God's covenantal promises. Thus, "Jewish" in biblical terms reflects a complex interplay of ethnicity, culture, and religious identity, rooted deeply in the history and covenantal relationship between God and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

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