AMAREL - It means "The Message or Word of God"

 Plus - Why Ten Tribes Were Never Lost!

What would you say if I told you
that you can be an Yisra’elite
without being a "Jew”?
What would you say it if I told you
that you can be a Hebrew without being a "Jew”? 
And what would you say if I told you
 that there were never any "lost tribes of Israel"?

While these issues may seem disconnected
there is actually a strong linkage between them.
To discover this linkage
and some other fascinating truths
please read on.

Most of the world does not properly understand the term "Jew”, 
where it came from, or what it actually means. 
It's been incorrectly used for so many centuries
that it's origin is "lost" in human tradition. 

Technically and properly speaking,
an Israelite is not necessarily a "Jew”.
Likewise, a Hebrew is not necessarily a "Jew”.
However, you cannot be a “Jew”
without being an Israelite and a Hebrew.

Do I have your attention? 

This will take most people by complete surprise.
It will even surprise many
who refer to themselves as "Jews" or "Jewish”. 
Why?
Because tradition has taught the world
that every person that is related by birth to Jacob (Ya'akob),
who is also known as Israel (Yisra'el),
is "Jewish”.
However - tradition is wrong! 

Scripture when studied carefully
declares that the term “Jew”
is definitely not being used correctly,
either semantically or generationally.
Indeed, it hasn't been used correctly for centuries.

You may think this is incorrect as you first read these statements.
However, what I'm about to explain to you
will demonstrate the serious errors involved
with this traditional line of thinking.
The problem originates as a language issue.
Due to imprecise and incorrect translation of the Hebrew text of Scripture,
we've been given, by tradition, a false perspective and a serious delusion.

Let me illustrate with an example.
This is very much like saying,
"If you live in America you're a Texan.”
Obviously, not every American is a Texan.
Neither is every Yisra’elite or Hebrew a "Jew”.
[There are certainly limitations with this analogy
but it's very difficult to find a direct parallel.
This does illustrate the basic point of this article.]

To understand the use of the term “Jew”
one needs to know its source.
It's derived from the use of "Judah”,
the anglicized name of one of the sons of of Jacob.
[Jacob is the anglicized transliteration of Ya’akob.
Judah is the anglicized form of Yahudah.
 Each of these names will be discussed more fully below.]

Ya'akob had his name changed by YAHWEH Himself (God). 
            [See Gen 32.28, 35.10.
Did you know God's personal Name is YAHWEH?] 
Ya'akob's name was changed to Yisra’el. 
"Israel" is the improper anglicized transliteration of his name. 
Yisra'el is the proper name we ought to be using.

Many Scriptural names have been improperly altered.
There's no clear reason for this.
It, as well, is part of our traditions.
Was it to make them 'easier' for people who speak or write in English?
Did the translators have trouble pronouncing
and/or spelling the Hebrew names?
Neither of these offers a compelling reason
for the alteration of the names.
One does not change their name, or the spelling of it,
just because it's being used in a different country or culture.
So why change the Scriptural names?

This is a frustrating error
because it also removes from the reader
the potential to recognize the meaning of the name. 
That meaning was central to Hebrew culture
and to other Middle Eastern cultures as well.
One's name carried extreme significance.
It meant something unique about the character or nature of the person.
It was more than a mere "designation" of an individual.
You'll see the significance of this in a moment.

Western culture generally does not have this element as part of one's name.
Our names don't tend to have specific meanings, 
especially ones related to our character or nature.

In Scripture they have specific meanings.
And while there is debate over the meaning of some of the names,
many times the meaning is connected to the meaning of the text.
Therefore, when the original name is "lost" through improper “translation” 
one can also lose some of the meaning of the text.
This is not a proper way to "translate" the text. 

With much anguish I declare to you
that in this and in other matters
Scripture has been seriously distorted!

This has been done in many subtle ways
throughout the course of world history.
Most of these distortions are the result of human traditions.
They've been slipped in gradually
with few paying any serious attention
to the alterations they've caused to the text
or to the implications for its proper understanding.
This has happened because WE have been careless. 
            [I specifically include myself in this.] 
We've failed to hold the leaders of our culture, or ourselves,
responsible for what is taught to others.
We've failed to "test the Scriptures”,
and/or our traditions,
to see whether these things are so
- as the Bereans of Sha’ul's day did.

The concept of being a “Jew”
is only one of these distortions.
Closely related is the concept of "The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel”.
These two distortions are actually directly connected.
In the end, both of them are myths!
I'll explain this as we continue.

Here's the definition of a "myth”: myth - noun
1 - a traditional story, especially one
concerning the early history of a people
or explaining some natural or social phenomenon,
and typically involving supernatural beings or events. 

• traditional stories or legends collectively. 
2 - a widely held but false belief or idea. 
• a misrepresentation of the truth. 
• a fictitious or imaginary person or thing. 
• an exaggerated or idealized conception of a person or thing. 
ORIGIN: mid 19th cent. - from modern Latin mythus; from Greek, muthos.

Here's the meaning of the Greek word, muthos:
3454. muvqoß muthos, moo´-thos; perhaps from the same as 3453
(through the idea of tuition);
a tale, i.e. fiction (“myth”): — fable. 

3453. mue÷w mueo, moo-eh´-o; from the base of 3466; to initiate,
i.e. (by implication) to teach: — instruct. 
3466. musth/rion musterion, moos-tay´-ree-on;
 from a derivative of mu/w muo (to shut the mouth);
a secret or “mystery” 
(through the idea of silence imposed
by initiation into religious rites): — mystery.

Every myth is a LIE, 
often subtly disguised by its form!

A "Jew" is not what you've been taught to believe.
This needs to be corrected.
So do a multitude of other "myths of tradition”.
As we address this issue
it's important to discuss a closely related issue.
Each issue impacts our view of the other.
You've most likely heard that "ten tribes of Israel were lost."
They were not!

The Myth of The Lost Ten Tribes

The implication of this tradition
is that the ten tribes of “Israel” were "lost"
- they somehow vanished! 
This is an absolute myth!

[The concept involves the captivity of the "Northern Kingdom”
which at one point was referred to as 'Israel’.
It consisted of ten tribes.
The "Southern Kingdom" was known as "Judah".
It consisted of two tribes.] 
No tribes of Yisra'el were ever 'lost’! 
They've always existed in some form.

Think clearly for a moment.
If ten were lost which two remain?
What are their names?

Surely they cannot both be “Jews”
because there should be two tribes,
two groups of people left.
So why do we only refer to one tribe today?
That's right, the term “Jew” refers to only one
of the original tribes of Yisra’el.
It refers only to the tribe of "Judah".

Let's take a closer look at reality.
Two separate kingdoms resulted from internal strife in the land
over who should be their king.
Ten tribes grouped themselves together
in the northern region of the land
and two tribes banded together
in the southern part of the land.
Both during the division of the land
into the Northern Kingdom, "Israel”,
and the Southern Kingdom, "Judah”,
and prior to each being exiled,
there were many who “defected" into the Kingdom of Judah from Israel.
     ['Israel' was also known as Samaria (Shomeron).] 
As a result, members of each tribe
existed within the tribe of ‘Judah'
and within The Land of The Promise, Kena’an.
None of the tribes was ever entirely "missing" from the land
after YAHWEH brought them into it.
There has always been a remnant there,
even in the worst of times.

Scripture is very clear
that not every member of every tribe was exiled.
The poorest of the land and some of the necessary 'craftsmen'
were retained in The Land of Promise, Kena’an,
even during the major captivities and exiles.
Some of the exiles were returned to the land by their captors,
even a priest of YAHWEH,
because "the god of the land" was unknown to them
- and there was trouble.

2Kings 17:26-28  And they spoke to the King of Ashshur saying, 
“The nations whom you have removed
and placed in the cities of Shomeron 
do not know the regulations themselves את
of the Elohim of the land.
And He has sent among them the lions themselves את.
And behold! They are putting to death they themselves את
because they do not know the regulations themselves את
of the Elohim of the land.” 
27 And the King of Ashshur commanded saying, 
“Cause to go there from the priests whom you removed from there.
And let him go and dwell there. 
And let him teach them the regulations themselves את
of the Elohim of the land.” 
28 And one of the priests came
whom they had removed from Shomeron. 
And he dwelt in Bayit El. 
And it existed that he taught they themselves את
how to revere YAHWEH Himself את.

Here are a few more Scripture passages to review
that show clearly that people from both "Israel" and “Judah”
were in the land after the exiles.

2 Chron. 11.14-17  Indeed, the Levites abandoned
their open lands themselves את and their possessions.
And they went to Yahudah and Yerushalaim,
because Yarob‛am and his sons
had excluded them from serving as priests to YAHWEH. 

11:15 And he established for himself
priests for the high places, and for the goats devils,
and the calf idols which he had made. 

11:16 And after them (the Levites),
from all the tribes of Yisra’el,
those having set their hearts themselves את
to seek YAHWEH Himself את, The  Elohim of Yisra’el,
came to Yerushalaim for the sake of sacrificing to YAHWEH,
The Elohim of their fathers. 

11:17 And they strengthened
the kingdom itself את of Yahudah.

And they strengthened Rehab‛am himself את,
son of Shelomoh, for three years
because they walked in the way of David and Shelomoh
for three years.

2 Chron. 30.8-12  Now, do not stiffen your neck like your fathers.
Give the hand to YAHWEH.
And come to His Set Apart Place
which He has set apart to eternity.
And serve YAHWEH Himself את, your Elohim!

Then He will turn back from you His fierce anger.

30:9 Indeed, if you will return to YAHWEH
your kindred and your children will have compassion
before the faces of their captors,
even for the sake of returning to this land. 

Indeed, YAHWEH, your Elohim,
shows favor and is compassionate.
And he will not turn His face away from you
if you turn back to Him.”

30:10 And the runners were passing over
from city to city in the land of Ephraim and Menashe,
and as far as Zebulun.
But they were laughing at them and mocking at them.

 30:11 However, men from Asher,
and from Menashe and from Zebulun humbled themselves.
And they came to Yerushalaim.

30:12 The hand of YAHWEH was also on Yahudah
for the sake of giving to them a united heart
for the sake of doing the directive of the king and the rulers,
according to the word of YAHWEH.

2 Chron. 34:9  And they went to Hilkiyah, the great priest.
And they gave the silver itself את
which had been brought to The House of YAHWEH
which the Levites had collected,
those keeping watch of the doors,
from the hand of Menashe and Ephraim,
and from all the remnant of Yisra’el,
and from all of Yahudah and Binyamin,
and those dwelling Yerushalaim.

You can't collect money from someone who is "lost”.
Take note of who is identified.
You cannot have "ten lost tribes” and include these people
who are from more than two tribes.

Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Ezra each contain further accounts
that indicate the presence of all the tribes.
The traditions of human beings have covered up this Truth!
You've been told that ten tribes of Yisra'el were LOST!
It's a LIE!

Are All Yisra'elites "Jews”?

You've also been led to believe
that "the children of Yisra'el are all "Jews”.
This is not correct. 
Here's why this is erroneous.
In order for this to be correct
every person born to Ya'akob/Yisra’el
must belong to the tribe of Yahudah (Judah).
Otherwise they are not properly "Judahites" (Jews).

That's because the term, “Jew” is derived strictly from "Judah”.
It's not derived from Yisra’el.
It's not derived from Samaria (Shomeron).
It's not derived from the name of any other tribe of the sons of Yisra'el.
 
The false teaching of the ages - the myth of tradition -
therefore teaches that only the tribe of Judah
survived the captivities, exiles, and conquests of the land.
This is patently false!
The very terminology is self-destructive.
Scripture demonstrates this over and over.
To recognize this all you need to do
is think seriously about what Scripture says.

It's unwise to merely accept the teachings of tradition as being valid
without carefully examining them to verify their truth.
This particular problem has its roots
within the domains of "translation”,
and traditional terminology.
The first issue to correct is our understandings
of the names found in the Hebrew text.
[Not the Greek and not the English ones.] 

Ya'akob, known commonly as Jacob,
was the father of twelve sons.
YAHWEH changed his name to Yisra’el. 
            [See Gen 32.28, 35.10] 

Ya'akob means heel-catcher, restrainer,
or one who supplants.

Yisra'el means “he who is right with El" (God)
 Note that his name was changed to Yisra’el, not 'Israel’,
although that's the common "translation" and usage
with which we've been so indoctrinated.
Also note the separation of the vowels
by what we call an apostrophe.
It separates El from the basic structure and meaning of the name,
thus bringing clear focus on El.
This is a very common feature of Hebrew names.
Each one of them conveys a special connection to YAHWEH. 

El means strong, mighty.
It's traditionally used to refer to a deity,
especially YAHWEH.
It's the short form of elohim.

Here's a list of the names of the twelve sons: 
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar,
Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher,
and Yoseph - from whom came Ephraim and Manasseh.  
   [These are the traditional English transliterations of these names,
    not the proper Hebrew forms of the names.]

Of these twelve sons
there is one that never became a "tribe" of Yisra'el.
The tribe of Joseph (Yoseph) was never called the tribe of Joseph.
It was split into the tribes of Ephraim and Menashe.

Joseph's two sons were adopted by Yisra’el before his death
as "his own children”.
They became heirs in his lineage.
What typically would belong to Joseph
now belonged to Ephraim and Menashe.
That made thirteen tribes, not twelve.
Thus, technically speaking,
there were not merely "twelve tribes of Yisra'el",
there were thirteen. 

     [As a interesting note,
      thirteen is considered by some to be the number of rebellion in Scripture. 
      Before all is "said and done” all thirteen of the tribes rebelled against YAHWEH. 
     This would also mean you'd have to have eleven lost tribes
      - which raises yet another problem with "losing ten".]

From these thirteen,
the sons of Levi were “taken" by YAHWEH Himself
to serve in His presence on behalf of the other tribes.
They were not given a land inheritance in Kena’an
as were the other twelve tribes.
Because of this they are not “counted”
as one of the tribes of Yisra'el.
YAHWEH 'adopted' the tribe of Levi
in a similar manner to Yisra'el's adoption of Ephraim and Menashe.
They became direct heirs of Him.
Therefore they did not need a piece of land to inherit.
With the tribe of Levi “removed”,
there were now twelve tribes.
But Joseph's name (Yoseph)
is never associated directly with any of the tribes.

The historical account records the abominable history
of these thirteen tribes.
Individuals within each of them
abandoned YAHWEH (apostatized)
and served the "gods" of the nations they replaced.
Please note that this abandonment was not "wholesale”.
Not every person was guilty of this.
While the references of Scripture may cause you to think this was true,
it simply was not so.

We need to remember that YAHWEH always had, and has,
a remnant,
a few who remained faithful to Him
and sought to follow His ways.
This remains true to this day.

Keep in mind - not everyone went into exile.
Some of the Hebrews were permitted to stay in the land.
Add to this the ones who were returned,
including those who returned under Ezra and Nehemiah, etc.
   [See the Scriptures quoted above.] 

We also need to consider
the eventual migration of these "Yisra'elites"
back to their homeland over the intervening centuries.
The result is that there are no "lost tribes of Israel”.
They never disappeared.
The concept of "Ten Lost Tribes” is a LIE!

What is a "Jew"?

Now that we've reviewed very briefly
a bit of the history
we're ready to address the issue of  'What is a "Jew”?'
What does this term properly and correctly represent.

The traditional usage of the term is neither proper or correct.
The only use of this designation that's even close to proper and correct
is a reference to a person from the tribe of 'Judah’.
'Judah' is the source of the term 'Jew’.
The original name is Yahudah.
This became Yudah in the Septuagint,
which is a Greek "translation" of the Hebrew name.
It's even a bad "translation" of it
because it alters the name in a very important manner.

What started in Hebrew as Yahudah
was "modified" to Yehudah in accord with Hebrew tradition.
The tradition behind this was the move
to prevent the "common person”
from “mispronouncing” The Sacred Name of YAHWEH in any form.

Since Yah and Yahu are considered to be forms of the Name, YAHWEH,
the texts were altered to eliminate Yah and Yahu,
which are abbreviated forms of YAHWEH,
from most of the Hebrew literature.
YAHWEH was changed to Adonai (Lord).
or was replaced by some other designation such as Ha-Shem,
which means "the name".

Adonai is not a name. 
Ha-Shem is not a name. 
The LORD is not a name.
Yet tradition has taught that all three are "names”. 
This is heresy! It is plainly FALSE TEACHING!!

All of this is in direct violation of The Torah itself,
and the third word of The Ten Words. 
     [traditionally called in error 'The Ten Commandments’] 

Many names and titles were switched to begin with Yeh, Yehu, etc
But this move alters the meaning of the name itself. 
It removes YAH (the short form of YAHWEH) from the name.

Furthermore,
there was never a letter “J” in the Hebrew aleph-bet
or the Greek alpha-beta. [The Greek version of the Hebrew letters.] 

Indeed, the letter "J" did not exist until around 1500 AD.
It was introduced by the Germans.
Only after all of this foolishness
did we end up with Judah instead of Yahudah.
 YAHU-dah means YAHU be praised.
It is the proper and correct name to use.

     [Note: There are those who identify the name of God
      as YAHU-WEH in its purest form, hence the source for "YAHU”. 
      There is much to suggest this is likely correct.
      However, the pronunciations are virtually identical.]

Where does this leave us?
"Jew" is a reference to Yahudah.
Thus its current usage is not correct.
The only proper use of the term,
if you can even consider ANY use of it as "proper",
is to a person from the tribe of Yahudah/Judah.

So why do we call "Yisra'elites" "Jews"?
And what do we call the rest of the offspring of Yisra'el?
They clearly are not "Jews”.
They are Yisra’elites,
if by Yisra’elite you mean offspring of Yisra'el.

They are Hebrews as well.
Hebrews are the offspring of Abraham.
Abraham's father was named Eber.
It was from his name
that we have derived the term “Hebrew" in the English language.
It's spelled a bit differently in Hebrew,
but the pronunciation is very similar,
making its use reasonably legitimate.

There's one more element of history to discuss.
The tribe of Yahudah came to the forefront of history
as a result of the predominance it held
over the people and the land in the later years of the "nation of Yisra'el”,
the reference here being to all thirteen tribes.
Since the tribe of Yahudah ended up ruling the nation
others began to refer to the people of the land as "Judeans".
             [Technically this would have “Yahudeans", meaning the people of Yahudah.]

Now that you understand the history behind this issue
it may be helpful for you to look at the Hebrew words involved. 
Listed below are some of them.
Look carefully at them. 
They'll give you a new perspective on the correct terminology.

3063. h∂d…wh◊y Yhuwdah, yeh-hoo-daw´; from 3034;
celebrated;
Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites;
also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory:—Judah. 
3064. yîd…wh◊y Yhuwdiy, yeh-hoo-dee´; patronymically from 3063;
a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah):—Jew. 
3065. yîd…wh◊y Yhuwdiy, yeh-hoo-dee´; the same as 3064; Jehudi, an Israelite:—Jehudi.
3066. tyîd…wh◊y Yhuwdiyth, yeh-hoo-deeth´; feminine of 3064;
the Jewish (used adverbially) language:—in the Jews’ language.
3067. tyîd…wh◊y Yhuwdiyth, yeh-ho-deeth´; the same as 3066;
Jewess; Jehudith, a Canaanitess:—Judith.

Yh is given as yeh, instead of yah.
This is determined today
solely by the vowel pointings of the Hebrew text.
Yet there were no vowel pointings in the original Hebrew texts.
One could very appropriately pronounce these letters as yah.
And indeed, when one looks at Scriptural names in particular,
along with their definitions,
it becomes crystal clear
that yah was intended in the original forms.
Only tradition has altered this. 

Note the use of the "J" in Strong's definitions.
Remember that this letter was not invented or used
until around 1500 AD - in Germany.

Now take note of the Name, YAHWEH:

3068. hDwøh◊y Yhwh; from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; name of God:—the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069. 
3069. hIwøh◊y Yhwh; a variation of 3068 (used after 136, and pronounced as 430,
in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound,
since elsewhere 3068 is pronounced as 136):—God.

Do you notice anything missing here in 3068 and 3069? 
Right, there is no "sounding-of-the-syllables”. 
Why is this?

It's because of the traditions of human beings. 
It's intended to "prevent” someone from ‘mispronouncing’
the sacred name of The Elohim, YAHWEH!

This is sheer and unmitigated BLASPHEMY! 
It DISHONORS the Name, YAHWEH! 
Indeed, it does the exact opposite of the teachings The Torah.

So What Should We Call The Sons of Yisra'el? 

Ya'akob's name was changed
by YAHWEH Himself
in Genesis 32.28 to Yisra’el.
But the references in Scripture
move back and forth between Ya'akob and Yisra’el 
when speaking of him personally.
This is a bit confusing for us.
However, when YAHWEH formed the national identity
of His Chosen People
He referred to them as Yisra’el.
That's been their national identity since its inception.

Only the corrupting influence of the divided kingdom
brought confusion into the historical records.
Interestingly,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        it indicated that Yisra'el was “broken".
The nation was divided.
It was the result of many abandoning YAHWEH!

The predominant term used in Scripture for "YAHWEH's people”
is "The Children of Yisra'el" (literally, sons of).
Common usage gives us "Israelites”.
Properly, this should be Yisra'elites'.

Here are the Hebrew terms related to this.

3478. lEa∂rVcˆy Yisra}el, yis-raw-ale´; from 8280 and 410;
he will rule as God;
Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob;
also (typically) of his posterity:—Israel.
3479. lEa∂rVcˆy Yisra}el, yis-raw-ale´; (Aramaic) corresponding to 3478:—Israel. 
3481. yIlEa√rVcˆy Yisr}eliy, yis-reh-ay-lee´; patronymically from 3478;
a Jisreelite or descendant of Jisrael:—of Israel, Israelite.

Unfortunately in the world of today
this terminology becomes a serious problem.
 Who is a "child of Yisra'el”,
and who is not such a child?
Trying to sort this out is not easy.
Even The New Covenant blurs this line.
The terms 'Israelite', ''Children of Israel’, and ‘Jew’ are all used.
[at least in the English texts] 

Sha’ul (Paul) teaches
that whoever is of the "faith of Abraham" is a 'Jew’.
So, are you a 'Jew’, or are you a 'Yisra'elite’?
Is it based on your natural birth,
or is it based on your faith, 
or is it perhaps based on both? 
     [Note: I understand that Paul is arguing
     that it's one's faith that ultimately matters
     in relation to the issues he's discussing. 
    It's crucial not to take things out of context.
    They lose their intended meanings.] 

To add further to the confusion,
there's the issue of "The Jews”
portrayed as being against YAHUSHUA, The "Jewish Messiah”.
But was He not born to be "King of The 'Jews' "?
The Hebrew Messiah was born within the lineage of King David.
David was a Yahudahite, born in Bayit Lechem of Yahudah. 
[In English speak that’s "A Jew, born in Bethlehem,
a town of the tribe of 'Judah’.]
The point is that David was "A Jew among Jews!” 
Or, as "Jewish" as one can get.
He was from the tribe of Judah/Yahudah.

For "translators" to suggest,
by improper use of language,
that The Messiah was somehow not among 'the Jews’
is pure heresy! (false teaching) 

There are other ways to understand
who is being referred to in these texts.
An accurate translation would provide them
so you would understand that those references
are only to a restricted portion of Yisra'elites. 

The so-called "translators” also changed His Name to 'Jesus’.
"Jesus" is a transliteration of the Greek name, Iesous.

Here's Strong's definition:

G2424. ∆Ihsouvß Iesous, ee-ay-sooce´; of Hebrew origin (H3091);
Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua),
the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites: — Jesus.

H3091.Ao…wvwøh◊y Yhowshuwa', yeh-ho-shoo´-ah;
or Ao¨vwøh◊y Yhowshua, yeh-ho-shoo´-ah; from 3068 and 3467;
Yhwh-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader:
—Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.

Please note very carefullly the origin of this name.
It comes from the Hebrew for "Joshua”.
The traditional Hebrew gives us Yehoshua.
It's original form was certainly Yahushua.

There's a separate article on this site
dealing with the entire issue concerning this name.

His Hebrew Name is YAHUSHUA.
It literally means Yahu is deliverer/savior/rescuer.
It is of SUPREME importance to have it correct!

No Hebrew family would ever give their child a Greek name.
The mother of The Hebrew Messiah
most assuredly would not do so.
Yet this is what human tradition has given to us
as the result of imprecise translation 
f the language of the text, at best,
or of intentional tampering with The Word of YAHWEH at it's worst.
Either way, this is despicable!

When there's a reference to "the Jews”
as opposed to YAHUSHUA,
the reference is to the "leaders of the Jews”,
the scribes (lawyers), the Pharisees, and/or the Sadducees.
This is revealed in the stories of those healed by YAHUSHUA also.
"The Jews" wanted to know who healed these people?
Were the people healed not 'Jews' themselves?
Was The Messiah not a "Jew" Himself?
Was He not from the tribe of Yahudah?
This should be a clue for us
that the term ‘Jew’ in its current usage
is essentially a LIE!

No wonder people have trouble comprehending
what Scripture really says.
A casual reader will quickly find things
that cause them to wonder what to believe.
This reinforces the importance
of being absolutely serious about one's study of Scripture.
This should never be a casual venture. 

I've reflected seriously on ways to clarify all of this.
It's a complex problem at this point in history.
Yet it also seems very important
to come up with a better way to understand the text.
Here's what I invite you to consider.
When you see the term ‘Jew’
- ask yourself whether this refers
to an offspring of Ya'akob/Yisra'el or not.
When you see the term ‘Israelite’
- ask yourself whether this refers
 to a natural born person within the nation of Yisra'el.

If you're studying Sha’ul's writings
or some of the other New Covenant writings
- ask yourself whether this is a reference
to one who has chosen to trust YAHWEH
as Abraham trusted Him.
 Having done those things,
you'll have a better sense of what the text is actually saying.

There are other things you can do.
You can use the term ‘Hebrew', instead of 'Jew' or ‘Yisra'elite',                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        to refer to an offspring of Yisra'el.
This by-passes all the other confusion.
It's also quite proper to do so.

By all means, start today to use Yisra’el
 in place of Israel. 
Use YAHUDAH in place of Judah.
Those two things will begin to challenge people
to reconsider what they say and think.
It will also give you an opportunity
to help them discover The Truth,
even for one who trusts in YAHWEH as Abraham trusted in Him,
New Covenant believers included.
The use of the term 'Hebrew' becomes very appropriate.

They've entered into
the same covenant relationship with YAHWEH
that has been involved with Abraham
and with The Children of Yisra’el.
Those who are trusting in YAHWEH are "Hebrews indeed!"

They are not "Jews’. 
They are not "Messianic Jews”. 
They are not “Yisra’elites”, unless they are descendants of Yisra’el. 
They are believers in The Hebrew Messiah. 

They are ones who are trusting YAHWEH
for their deliverance from the bondage
brought about by their "offenses".

YAHUDAH! - PRAISE BE TO YAHWEH!

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