Etymology The modern English word "Hebrew" is derived from Old French , via Latin from the Ancient Greek () and Aramaic 'ibrāy, all ultimately derived from Biblical Hebrew (), one of several names for the Israelite (Jewish and Samaritan) people (Hebrews). It is traditionally understood to be an adjective based on the name of Abraham's ancestor, Eber, mentioned in . The name is believed to be based on the Semitic root ʕ-b-r (), meaning "beyond", "other side", "across"; interpretations of the term "Hebrew" generally render its meaning as roughly "from the other side [of the river/desert]"—i.e., an exonym for the inhabitants of the land of Israel and Judah, perhaps from the perspective of Mesopotamia, Phoenicia or Transjordan (with the river referred to being perhaps the Euphrates, Jordan or Litani; or maybe the northern Arabian Desert between Babylonia and Canaan). Compare the word Habiru or cognate Assyrian ebru, of identical meaning.
Etymology The modern English word "Hebrew" is derived from Old French  via Latin from the Ancient Greek () and Aramaic 'ibrāy all ultimately derived from Biblical Hebrew () one of several names for the Israelite (Jewish and Samaritan) people (Hebrews) It is traditionally understood to be an adjective based on the name of Abraham's ancestor Eber mentioned in  The name is believed to be based on the Semitic root ʕ-b-r () meaning "beyond" "other side" "across"; interpretations of the term "Hebrew" generally render its meaning as roughly "from the other side [of the river/desert]"—ie an exonym for the inhabitants of the land of Israel and Judah perhaps from the perspective of Mesopotamia Phoenicia or Transjordan (with the river referred to being perhaps the Euphrates Jordan or Litani; or maybe the northern Arabian Desert between Babylonia and Canaan) Compare the word Habiru or cognate Assyrian ebru of identical meaning