יְהוּדִית
𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤕
Yehudit
H3066 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper feminine noun primarily meaning 'woman of Judah' or 'Judahite woman'; also serves as the term for the language spoken in the territory of Judah during the monarchic and early post-exilic periods—commonly rendered 'Judean' or 'Judean language' (referring to the form of Hebrew spoken by Judeans). In extended usage, denotes both an individual female associated with Judah and, more rarely, adjectivally or adverbially, language or speech identified with the Judahite population.
Semantic Range
female member of the tribe or territory of Judah, woman of Judah, used of the language spoken in Judah (Judean language), personal name (Judith); as a designation of dialect or ethnic origin in contrast to other groups or languages
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root י-ד-ה (יְהוּדִי, Yehudi), itself meaning 'Judahite' or '(person) from Judah.' The feminine ending -ית (it) forms the feminine variant. Root ידה is derived from the tribal and territorial name יהודה (Yehudah, Judah). Core meaning of the root: 'to praise' or 'to confess,' but as a proper noun it designates the tribal identity, then the territory and its inhabitants.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, יְהוּדִית occurs both as a personal name (e.g., the wife of Esau in Genesis 26:34) and in reference to the language spoken by inhabitants of the kingdom of Judah, notably in 2 Kings 18:26, 28; Nehemiah 13:24; Isaiah 36:11, 13, where it refers to the spoken form of Hebrew characteristic of the southern kingdom, especially as distinguished from other regional dialects or languages such as Aramaic. In English translations, יְהוּדִית is often rendered 'Jewish' or 'Jew's language,' but this is anachronistic for biblical periods, since 'Jew' is best reserved for later historical contexts. The feminine form, in personal naming, reflects ethnic and geographic identity tied to Judah. In later periods, as the identity of Judeans became more widely linked with religious groupings, the term's usage shifted, but in biblical contexts it should be understood with primary geographic and ethnic specificity. Contrast with יְהוּדִי (Yehudi), the masculine form, and note that 'Judean' is the more accurate rendering for the period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of יְהוּדִי; the Jewish (used adverbially) language; in the Jews' language.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יהד (y-h-d) — praise, confession, Judahite identity, pertaining to Judah
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3054 | יָהַד | those aligning themselves as Judeans |
| H3055 | יְהֻד | Yehud |
| H3061 | יְהוּד | to the province of Judah |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3066-01 |
יְהוּדִ֔ית | yehudit | HNgfsa |
Judean | Judahite woman | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3066-01 |
2 Kings 18:26 | יְהוּדִ֔ית | yehudit | HNgfsa |
Judean | Judahite woman |
H3066-01 |
2 Kings 18:28 | יְהוּדִ֑ית | yehudit | HNgfsa |
Judean | Judahite woman |
H3066-01 |
Isaiah 36:11 | יְהוּדִ֔ית | yehudit | HNgfsa |
Judean | Judahite woman |
H3066-01 |
Isaiah 36:13 | יְהוּדִ֑ית | yehudit | HNgfsa |
Judean | Judahite woman |
H3066-01 |
Nehemiah 13:24 | יְהוּדִ֑ית | yehudit | HNgfsa |
Judean | Judahite woman |
H3066-01 |
2 Chronicles 32:18 | יְהוּדִ֗ית | yehudit | HNgfsa |
Judahite | Judahite woman |