In the Torah—the first five books of the Bible—Genesis 14:13 teaches that Abram, commonly recognized as the first Jew, was described as a “Hebrew.” The name “Jew” comes from the name of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob and one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Apparently the name “Jew” originally referred only to those who were members of the tribe of Judah, but when the kingdom was divided after the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 12), the term referred to anyone in the kingdom of Judah, which included the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Today, many believe that a Jew is anyone who is a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, regardless of which of the original twelve tribes he descends from.
Katika Torati-vitabu vitano vya kwanza vitano katika Biblia Mwanzo 14:13 inafundisha kuwa Abramu, kawaida anayetambuliwa kama Myahudi wa kwanza, alikuwa kama ilivyoelezwa "Kiebrania." Jina "Myahudi" linatokana na jina la Yuda, mmoja wa wana kumi na wawili wa Yakobo na mmoja wa makabila kumi na mawili ya Israeli. Inavyoonekana jina "Myahudi" awali lilijulikana tu kwa wale ambao walikuwa wanachama wa kabila la Yuda, lakini wakati ufalme uligawanyika baada ya utawala wa Sulemani (1 Wafalme 12), neno lilimaanisha mtu yeyote katika ufalme wa Yuda, ambayo ni pamoja na kabila la Yuda, Benjamin, na Lawi. Leo hii, wengi wanaamini kwamba Myahudi ni mtu yeyote ambaye ana uzao wa kimwili na Ibrahimu, na Isaka, na Yakobo, bila ya kujali makabila ya awali kumi na mbili anapotoka.