“Jew” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
Contraction of Judah
Man of Judea (2 Kings 16:6; 25:25). After captivity, Hebrews in general (Ezra 4:12; Dan. 3:8-12). Antithesis of Christian in N. T. (John; Rom. 1:16).
“Judah” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(praise). (1) Fourth son of Jacob (Gen. 29:35; 37:26-28; 43:3-10; 44:14-34). His tribe the largest (Num. 1:26-27). Allotted the southern section of Canaan (Josh. 15:1-63). (2) Kingdom of, formed on disruption of Solomon’s empire, out of Judah, Benjamin, Simeon, and part of Dan, with Jerusalem as capital, B. C. 975. Had 19 kings, and lasted for 389 years, till reduced by Nebuchadnezzar, B. C. 586. Outlived its rival, Israel, some 135 years. (3) City of Jerusalem (2 Chron. 25:28). (4) A town in Naphtali (Josh. 19:34). (5) Persons (Ezra 3:9; 10:23; Neh. 11:9).
“Jew” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
A man of Judah. The term does not occur until after the division of the kingdom (2 Kings 16:6; 2 Kings 25:25). It is applied to any one belonging to the two tribes, and it may have been used respecting any of the ten tribes who remained in the land at the captivity or returned thither. The name is principally found in the Old Testament in Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Jeremiah. In Esther the name is applied to all the Hebrews in Persia. In the New Testament the name occurs most frequently in the gospel of John, where it is applied to those of Jerusalem and Judaea in distinction from “the people” who may have been Galileans or visitors from a distance. John speaks of “the Jews,” “the Jews’ passover,” and so forth, as though he were not a Jew. They had rejected the Lord, and in spirit John was separate from them.
In the addresses to the seven churches we twice read of those who “say they are Jews, and are not.” The name is there used of those claiming to be the people of God by descent, but not so morally, as in another place there are some “who say they are apostles, and are not” (Rev. 2:2,9; Rev. 3:9). In a similar way the Jews prided themselves in being “sons of Abraham,” whereas, the Lord declared that they were not such morally. The name JEWESS occurs only in Acts 16:1 and Acts 24:24.
“Judah, the Kingdom of” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
On the separation of the ten tribes, Judah and Benjamin formed a kingdom under the name of Judah. Benjamin being but a small tribe, the kingdom of Judah is sometimes spoken of as one tribe. Doubtless the territory of Simeon was also attached to Judah—that tribe being as it were lost in the land. It was not named when Moses blessed the tribes (Deut. 33, compare Gen. 49:7). Bethel, out of the portion of Benjamin, fell to the kingdom of Israel.
The temple being at Jerusalem, with the priests and Levites, Judah represented God’s people and His government upon the earth; whereas the kingdom of Israel gave itself up at once to idolatry. God, according to His promise, still caused the lamp of David to shine at Jerusalem. Many of the kings served God with purpose of heart, though others embraced idolatry. (For the succession of the kings, see KINGS.) The kingdom of Judah continued from B.C. 975 to 606 when many of the people were carried captive, though Jerusalem was not destroyed till B.C. 588.
Seventy years of captivity had been foretold by Jeremiah (Jer. 25:11-12; Jer. 29:10): these began in B.C. 606 and ended in 536 when under Cyrus the Jews returned to build the house of Jehovah; but it was not finished and dedicated until B.C. 515 (Ezra 6:15). A commission was given to Ezra in B.C. 468 (Ezra 7); and one to Nehemiah to rebuild the city in 455. It could not however be called the kingdom of Judah; only a remnant of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin returned. They were first subject to the kingdom of Persia, then to the kingdom of Greece, and after a short time of freedom under JUDAS MACCABEUS and his successors they became subject to Rome.
In B.C. 65 Syria became a Roman province and in the year 40 Herod was appointed by Rome king of Judæa, and he continued on the throne to New Testament times. The children of Israel inhabiting Judæa in those days were the descendants of Judah and Benjamin (except any individuals who may have found their way there from the ten tribes). They were the people to whom the Messiah was presented, and who refused and crucified Him. They continued their persecution in the times of the apostles, and they will be dealt with separately from the ten tribes (compare Matt. 24:4-35; Matt. 27:25).
They revolted from Rome, and in A.D. 70 Jerusalem was taken and destroyed, some of its inhabitants were sold as slaves, and thousands were slain (Dan. 9:26; Luke 21:12-24). Their descendants are scattered over the earth; but when God’s set time is come they will be brought through the fire of judgment, and a remnant will be saved, restored to their own land, and blessed under their Messiah whom they now reject (Matt. 2:6; Heb. 8:8-12).
Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:
Meaning:
patronymically from 3063; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah)
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
same as Jehudi
Potts’ Bible Proper Names:
Praising; celebrated:―descendant of Judah, Esth. 2:5. {Laudens}