G1446 G1446
Hebrew (language or dialect); specifically the Aramaic vernacular spoken in first-century Judea
The adjective Ἑβραΐς (feminine form of Ἑβραϊκός) describes the Hebrew language or, more precisely in NT contexts, the Aramaic dialect spoken in Palestine during the first century. When Acts records Paul speaking 'in the Hebrew language,' it refers to Aramaic, the common tongue of Jews in Judea, as distinct from Greek. This linguistic choice carried powerful social and religious significance—it marked the speaker as authentically Jewish and addressed hearers in their heart language.
Senses
1. sense 1 — All three occurrences describe Paul addressing Jewish audiences in their native tongue. In Acts 21:40 Paul asks permission to address the crowd, then 'standing on the steps, he motioned to the people, and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language.' Acts 22:2 notes the crowd's response: 'And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet.' In Acts 26:14 Paul recounts Jesus speaking to him on the Damascus road 'in the Hebrew language.' The German gloss Ἑβραΐδι preserves the Greek dative form. Speaking Aramaic/Hebrew signaled cultural solidarity and religious authenticity, making Paul's message more credible to Jewish listeners resistant to Hellenization. 3×
AR["العِبْرَانِيَّةِ", "ـالْعِبْرِيَّةِ"]·ben["ইব্রীয়"]·DE["Ἑβραΐδι"]·EN["Hebrew"]·FR["hébraïque"]·heb["הָעִבְרִית", "עִבְרִית"]·HI["इब्रानी"]·ID["Ibrani"]·IT["in-ebraico"]·jav["Ibrani"]·KO["히브리"]·PT["Hebraica", "hebraica"]·RU["Еврейском", "еврейском"]·ES["hebrea"]·SW["Kiebrania"]·TR["İbranice"]·urd["عبرانی"]
Related Senses
H5971a 1. people, nation (1836×)H5973a 1. accompaniment, together with (956×)H0854 1. with (accompaniment) (665×)H1471a 1. nations, peoples (plural/collective) (466×)G3326 1. with (368×)H1285 1. covenant, pact, treaty (284×)G2453 1. Jewish person, Jew (194×)H4150 1. meeting (tent of meeting) (151×)G2992 1. people/nation (an ethnic or political community) (142×)G4862 1. (129×)G1484 1. Gentiles, non-Jewish nations (128×)H1471a 2. nation, people-group (singular) (98×)H3162b 1. together (97×)H1616 1. sojourner, resident alien (92×)H0567 1. Amorite (people group) (87×)H3064 1. Jew, Jewish person (81×)H3669a 1. Canaanite (ethnic designation) (70×)G1122 1. scribe / expert in the Law (63×)H2114a 1. stranger, foreigner (person) (54×)H5608b 1. scribe, royal secretary (48×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
“Hebrew”: and as substantive, a Hebrew, NT+2nd c.AD+:— adjective Ἑβραϊκός, ή, όν, NT:—feminine Ἑβραΐς, ίδος, διάλεκτος NT+1st c.AD+:—Verb Ἑβραΐζω, speak Hebrew, Refs:— adverb Ἑβραϊστί, in the Hebrew tongue, LXX Si.prol., NT