Hebrew Of The Hebrews
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary [1]
an appellation which the Apostle Paul applies to himself, Php_3:5 , concerning the meaning of which there has been some difference of opinion. Godwin, in his "Moses and Aaron," understands by this expression, a Hebrew both by father's and mother's side. But if it meant no more than this, there was little occasion for the Apostle's using it immediately after having declared that he was "of the stock of Israel, and the tribe of Benjamin," which, on Godwin's supposition, is the same as a Hebrew of the Hebrews; for the Jews were not allowed to marry out of their own nation. Beside, it is not likely that St. Paul would have mentioned it as a distinguishing privilege and honour, that his parents were not proselytes. It is more probable that a Hebrew of the Hebrews signifies a Hebrew both by nation and language, which many of Abraham's posterity, in those days, were not; or one of the Hebrew Jews who performed their public worship in the Hebrew tongue; for such were reckoned more honourable than the Jews born out of Judea, and who spoke the Greek tongue. See Hellenists .
Easton's Bible Dictionary [2]
Philippians 3:5 2 11:22
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [3]
( Ε᾿Βραῖος Ἐξ ῾Εβραίων , emphatically a Hebrew, one who was so by both parents, and that by a long series of ancestors, without admixture of Gentile or even proselyte blood. In this way the Hebrews formed a superlative of intensity-as "holy of holies," i.e. the most holy place; "vanity of vanities," i.e. exceedingly vain; "heaven of heavens," i.e. the highest heaven. Hence Paul, when speaking of the ground of precedence which he might claim above the false teachers at Philippi, says that "He Is A Hebrew Of The Hebrews" ( Philippians 3:5), i.e. one of full Hebrew descent, and acquainted with the Hebrew language. Although he was born at Tarsus, he was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel in Jerusalem ( Acts 22:3). To this same fact he seems to appeal again in a similar case, "Are They Hebrews? so am I" ( 2 Corinthians 11:22). He was a Genuine Hebrew man in Every important respect ( Acts 21:39-40).
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature [4]
Emphatically a Hebrew, one who was so by both parents, and that by a long series of ancestors, without admixture of Gentile or even proselyte blood.
