Ἰσραηλείτης G2475
Israelite — a member of the covenant people of Israel, used as a title of theocratic privilege and national identity.
Israelites is not merely an ethnic label but a title weighted with covenant significance. When Peter addresses the crowds as 'Men, Israelites!' (Acts 2:22, 3:12, 5:35) or Paul identifies himself as an Israelite (Rom 9:4, 11:1; 2 Cor 11:22), the word evokes the entire heritage of divine election, promise, and calling. Jesus's remark about Nathanael — 'Behold, truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!' (John 1:47) — plays on this theological resonance, linking the name Israel back to the patriarch who wrestled with God. The term carries more weight than 'Hebrew' (Hebraios) or 'Jew' (Ioudaios), deliberately invoking the sacred covenant relationship.
Senses
1. Israelite (a person of Israel) — A member of the nation of Israel, used as a designation of theocratic privilege and covenant identity rather than mere ethnicity. In the NT, it appears in two main patterns: as a vocative address in public speech ('Men, Israelites!' in Acts 2:22, 3:12, 5:35, 13:16, 21:28) and as a predicate of covenant belonging (Rom 9:4, 11:1; 2 Cor 11:22). Jesus's declaration about Nathanael as 'truly an Israelite' (John 1:47) invokes the patriarch Jacob-Israel, linking the name to spiritual authenticity. Translations across languages (Spanish 'Israelitas,' French 'Israelite,' German 'Israelit') preserve the proper-noun quality, reflecting the term's function as a title of honor rather than a generic ethnic marker. 9×
AR["إِسْرائيلِيّونَ", "إِسْرَائِيلَ", "إِسْرَائِيلِيٌّ", "إِسْرَائِيلِيُّونَ", "يا-إِسرائيليّينَ"]·ben["ইস্রায়েলীয়", "ইস্রায়েলীয়রা", "ইস্রায়েলীয়েরা"]·DE["Israelit", "Ἰσραηλῖται"]·EN["Israelite", "Israelites", "Israēlitai", "Israēlites", "an-Israelite"]·FR["Israélite"]·heb["יִשְׂרְאֵלִי", "יִשְׂרְאֵלִים"]·HI["अपने-आप-को", "इस-पर", "इस्राइलियो", "इस्राएलियो", "इस्राएली", "इस्राएली,"]·ID["Israel", "orang-Israel", "orang-Israel,"]·IT["Israelita", "israelites"]·jav["Israel", "tiyang-Israel,", "tiyang-Israèl", "tiyang-Israèl,"]·KO["될-것이다", "왜", "이스라엘-사람들-이여", "이스라엘-사람들아", "이스라엘-사람들이니", "이스라엘-사람들이여", "이스라엘-사람들인가", "이스라엘-사람이니", "이스라엘-사람이다"]·PT["Israelitas", "Israelitas,", "israelita", "israelita,", "israelitas,"]·RU["Израильтяне", "Израильтяне,", "Израильтянин", "из-", "израильтяне"]·ES["Israelitas", "Israēlítēs", "Israēlîtai", "Israḗlîtai", "israelita", "israelitas"]·SW["Mwisraeli", "Waisraeli", "Waisraeli,"]·TR["bir-İsrailli", "İsrailli", "İsrailliler", "İsrailliler-mi"]·urd["اسرائیلی", "اسرائیلی،", "اسرائیلیو"]
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
Ἰσραηλείτης (Rec. -λίτης), ου, ὁ [in LXX: Num.25:8 (יִשְׂרָאֵל), 3Ki.21:1 (יִזְרְעֵאלִי; Luc. Ἰεζραηλίτης), etc. ;] an Israelite, the name expressive of theocratic privilege (see: Ἑβραῖος): Rom.9:4 11:1, 2Co.11:22; ἀληθῶς Ἰ., Jhn.1:48; ἄνδρες Ἰ., Act.2:22 3:12 5:35 13:16 21:23.† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)