Jews vs. Israelites — What's the Difference?

Members of a people whose traditional religion is Judaism.

Followers of the religious practices dictated in the early parts of the Hebrew Bible.

Religious community bound by the belief in one God and the teachings of the Torah.

Members of the ancient people consisting of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Descendants of the ancient Hebrews of the Kingdom of Judah.

Inhabitants of the biblical kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

People practicing Jewish customs or culture.

People governed by biblical laws before the Babylonian Exile.

Citizens of Jewish descent living in any country.

The Israelites (; Hebrew: בני ישראל‎, romanized: Bnei Yisra'el) were a confederation of Iron Age Semitic-speaking tribes of the ancient Near East, who inhabited a part of Canaan during the tribal and monarchic periods.In the Hebrew Bible, the term Israelites is used interchangeably with the term Twelve Tribes of Israel. Although related, the terms Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews are not interchangeable in all instances.

Jews (Hebrew: יְהוּדִים‎ ISO 259-2 Yehudim, Israeli pronunciation [jehuˈdim]) or Jewish people are members of an ethnoreligious group and a nation originating from the Israelites and Hebrews of historical Israel and Judah. Jewish ethnicity, nationhood, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the ethnic religion of the Jewish people, although its observance varies from strict to none.Jews originated as an ethnic and religious group in the Middle East during the second millennium BCE, in the part of the Levant known as the Land of Israel.

A native or inhabitant of the ancient Northern Kingdom of Israel.

To bargain shrewdly or unfairly with. Often used with down.

A descendant of Jacob; a Jew.

To haggle so as to reduce (a price). Often used with down.

A member of a people regarded as the chosen people of God.

An adherent of Judaism as a religion or culture.

A Jew not descended from the tribe of Levi and not a priest.

A member of the widely dispersed people originally descended from the ancient Hebrews and sharing an ethnic heritage based on Judaism.

Also Is·ra·el·it·ic (ĭz′rē-ə-lĭtĭk) Of or relating to ancient Israel, the ancient Israelites, or their culture.

A native or inhabitant of the ancient kingdom of Judah.

The ethnic group claiming descent from Abraham and Isaac (especially from Isaac's son Jacob); the nation whom God chose to receive his revelation and with whom God chose to make a covenant (Exodus 19)

Plural of jew

Ancient ancestors of modern Jews and Samaritans.

Nonstandard spelling of Jews

Historically, most Jews are considered descendants of the Israelites, though there are conversions and other forms of Jewish identity.

Modern Jews follow a codified set of practices and interpretations (e.g., the Talmud), which have developed since the times of the Israelites.

The primary religious texts for Jews are the Torah and the Talmud.

The Israelites were the members of the 12 Tribes associated with the ancient Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Israelites followed various laws and rituals presented in the early books of the Hebrew Bible.

The distinction arose post-Babylonian exile when the term "Jew" began to refer more broadly to those adhering to Jewish faith and culture, beyond just being an inhabitant of Judea.

Jews trace their ancestry through maternal lineage to the ancient Hebrews and Israelites.

Israelites refer to the ancient people directly tied to the biblical lands and narratives, whereas Jews denote the followers of Judaism as it has evolved through history.

"Judean" specifically referred to inhabitants of Judah, a term that evolved into "Jew" over time.

Yes, cultural differences exist, such as Ashkenazi Jews from Europe and Sephardic Jews from the Mediterranean, reflecting diverse histories and practices.

Yes, through conversion to Judaism, individuals become Jews but do not have Israelite ancestry.

The Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians around 722 BCE, leading to the dispersion of some of its tribes.

Biblical narratives are central to defining both Jews and Israelites, shaping religious beliefs, practices, and identity.

In Jewish thought, being an Israelite is often viewed historically, with spiritual lineage tracing back to these ancient tribes.

The term "Jew" was not used during most of the Israelite period; it became prevalent later, particularly after the Babylonian exile.