entho-geographic meaning of Judeans in Greek

I am trying to determine the entho-geographic meaning of Judeans in Greek. I did a word study in Greek of the term Ἰουδαῖοι but I want to know if there is another method of doing this type of research. Any thoughts are appreciated.

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DMB

Well, if you were jewish, and you lived in Galilee, would you be Ἰουδαῖοι? Maybe a Galilean accent?

If you were a greek trader, operating along the trade routes south of Judea in the 700s (bce), would your customers be Ἰουδαῖοι?

And if you were a jewish mercenary stationed along the upper-Nile during the Persian period, would you be Ἰουδαῖοι?

Just exploring your assumptions.

MJ. Smith

Did you try chat bots for hints? From Bard/Gemini

[quote]

In the first century, Greeks used the word "Ioudaios" (plural: "Ioudaioi") to refer to Judeans, which primarily carried two connotations:

1. Geographical: Primarily, Ioudaios referred to people from the region of Judea, encompassing not only the historical territory of Judah but also surrounding areas like Samaria. This usage reflected the Roman and Greek administrative divisions of the time.

2. Ethno-religious: In many contexts, "Ioudaios" also conveyed an ethno-religious meaning. It encompassed people who were descended from the ancient Israelites and adhered to the Jewish religion, including their customs, traditions, and laws.

However, it's important to note that distinctions and nuances existed in how the term was used:

Differentiation between ethnicity and religion: While often used interchangeably, some writers, particularly Jewish authors like Josephus, differentiated between "Ioudaios" (ethnic Jew) and "those who follow the Jewish customs" (religious adherent).
Negative connotations: In some cases, particularly in later Greek and Roman texts, "Ioudaios" could carry negative connotations, associated with stereotypes and prejudices against the Jewish people. This negativity is especially observed in certain literary works and historical accounts.

Here are some additional points to consider:

Alternative terms: While "Ioudaios" was the most common term, Greeks also used other terms like "Ioudaîos anthrópos" (Judean man) and "Ioudaía" (Judah) to refer to various aspects related to Judea and its people.
Evolution of the term: The meaning and usage of "Ioudaios" continued to evolve in later centuries, becoming increasingly associated with religious identity as Christianity developed.

For further research, exploring sources like:

"Ioudaios" article on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ioudaios.

See The Beginnings of Jewishness: Boundaries, Varieties, Uncertainties (Hellenistic Culture and Society) (Volume 31): Cohen, Shaye J. D.: 9780520226937: Amazon.com: Books

Christian Alexander

Yes I did and that book by Cohen is good as well. I am looking for the way this term has came from an ethnological and anthropological point of view.

MJ. Smith

way this term has came from an ethnological and anthropological point of view.

To the best of my knowledge, the main difference between linguistics and anthropological linguistics is that the latter is more interested in the actual use of a term across ethnic and social group boundaries and, perhaps, a bit more interested in the how/why of borrowings. What facts are you looking for that are not covered by the answers above?

Christian Alexander

How does race play a role in the Jews in the Gospels?

What is the geographic distribution of the Jews in the New Testament World?

How did Jewishness become a form of inherented religon in the New Testament era?

Which came first Judaism or Christianity?