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To: Ezekiel

The word “jew” originated in the 12th century.


14 posted on 05/24/2025 2:50:39 PM PDT by Mr. Blond
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To: Mr. Blond
I don't know what is the earliest occurrence of the English word "Jew"--it derives from the Latin Judaeus (Greek Ioudaios). Maybe it's 12th century--but we don't have a lot of surviving texts from that period in Middle English.

I think it's found in the Septuagint only in the post-exilic books like Esther (e.g. 3.10), I Maccabees (e.g. 8.20), or II Maccabees (e.g. 1.1).

In the earlier books of the Bible they refer to Israel, to the Israelites, or to a particular tribe. Before the Babylonian captivity there are references to the kings of Judah but I don't think the term "Jew" is used in II Kings or II Chronicles.

I don't think you can always rely on an English translation because they may insert the word Jew as understood even if it isn't in the original text. I don't read Hebrew so haven't tried to check the Hebrew text.

16 posted on 05/24/2025 3:41:38 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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