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In short, “Hebrew” refers to the origin and wandering identity of the people.
Israelites: a covenant nation
The term “Israelites” came later and is connected to Jacob, who was renamed Israel after his encounter with God. His descendants became known as the “children of Israel.”
This marked a major shift:
- They were no longer just a family
- They became a structured nation
- They were united by a covenant with God
This covenant was firmly established at Mount Sinai after the Exodus, when they received the law and a shared spiritual identity.
Israelites were:
Descendants of the twelve tribes
God’s chosen people under a covenant
A nation with purpose and direction
It’s important to note:
All Israelites are Hebrews, but not all Hebrews are Israelites.
For example, descendants of Esau came from Abraham but were not Israelites because they didn’t come from Jacob.