What does the Bible say about Jews?

The Bible presents a rich and complex portrait of the Jews, from their tribal origins in the Old Testament to their role in the story of redemption. The term “Jew” refers originally to descendants of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, but over time came to describe the people of Israel more broadly—particularly those living in Judea during the Second Temple period.

From Abraham to Jesus, and from Moses to Paul, the Jews are central to the biblical narrative. Yet Scripture also speaks of a transformation: from a nation identified by genealogy and land to a people marked by faith and the Spirit. Understanding what the Bible says about Jews is essential for interpreting the Old and New Testaments, understanding God’s covenant promises, and grasping the meaning of the Gospel.

This article explores five key questions about the Jews in the Bible, tracing their origin, purpose, and place in redemptive history.

1. Where Do the Jews Come From in the Bible?

The term “Jews” derives from “Judah,” the fourth son of Jacob. According to Genesis, Judah’s descendants formed one of the twelve tribes of Israel and later became the dominant tribe in the southern kingdom after the nation split. Over time, the term “Jew” came to refer primarily to those from Judah, especially after the exile and return from Babylon (see Ezra and Nehemiah).

The Bible does not portray Judah as a flawless ancestor. His personal story—especially in Genesis 38—reveals serious moral failure. Yet through him would come King David and ultimately Jesus the Messiah. This paradox is consistent with how God works throughout the biblical narrative: choosing the weak to shame the strong and using broken people to fulfill divine promises.

By the time of the New Testament, “Jew” (Greek Ioudaios) could refer specifically to people from Judea, or more broadly to adherents of the Jewish faith. The term carried both ethnic and religious weight.

2. What Role Do the Jews Play in God’s Plan of Redemption?

The Bible teaches that the Jews were chosen by God to be a covenant people. Through them came the Law, the Prophets, and the promises. Paul summarizes this in Romans 9:4–5: “To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises… and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ.”

Israel’s calling was never meant to be an end in itself. From the beginning, God’s covenant with Abraham included a promise that “all nations” would be blessed through his offspring (Genesis 12:3). The Jews, therefore, were chosen not for favoritism, but for mission: to bear witness to the one true God.

Jesus confirms this when He says, “Salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). The Messiah comes from Israel, fulfilling the covenant and expanding its blessings to the nations. The Jewish people played a unique and essential role in preparing the way for the Gospel.

3. Why Does the New Testament Speak Both Positively and Negatively About Jews?

The New Testament reflects both deep reverence and growing conflict regarding the Jews. Jesus, His disciples, and Paul were all Jewish. The early church began as a movement within Judaism. However, as Jewish leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah, tensions developed between synagogue and church.

This rift is visible in passages like John 9 or Acts 13, where some Jews oppose the Gospel. At the same time, Paul expresses great sorrow over their rejection, saying in Romans 10:1, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.”

It’s important to note that the term “Jews” in some New Testament contexts refers to specific leaders or Judean authorities—not to all Jewish people. The Bible never supports ethnic prejudice or hatred. Rather, it mourns spiritual resistance while holding out hope for repentance and restoration.

4. How Does the Bible Redefine Jewish Identity in Christ?

One of the most radical teachings of the New Testament is the redefinition of what it means to be a Jew. Paul writes in Romans 2:28–29, “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly… But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit.”

In this view, Jewish identity is no longer rooted in genealogy, circumcision, or land—but in the work of the Spirit and faith in Christ. The promises made to Abraham are fulfilled in Jesus and extended to all who belong to Him, whether Jew or Gentile.

Galatians 3:28–29 makes this clear: “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

This does not erase Jewish heritage, but it does universalize the covenant. The church becomes the new multi-ethnic Israel of God, formed not by bloodline but by union with the Messiah.

5. What Is the Future of the Jews According to the Bible?

The Bible points forward to a future in which both Jews and Gentiles are brought together in one body under Christ. Romans 11 speaks of a “partial hardening” coming upon Israel, but also of hope that many will yet turn to Christ.

This hope is not based on ethnic destiny but on God’s mercy. Paul likens Israel to branches broken off from an olive tree, which can be grafted in again “if they do not continue in their unbelief” (Romans 11:23).

The future restoration of the Jews, therefore, is not about rebuilding a nation-state, but about incorporation into the new creation. In Christ, the dividing wall is broken down (Ephesians 2:14), and a new humanity is formed.

The Gospel does not erase Jewish identity—it fulfills it. The promises made to the patriarchs are kept in Jesus, who unites people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into one holy people.

Conclusion: Jews, the Bible, and the Gospel

So, what does the Bible say about the Jews?

  1. They descend from Judah, a flawed but chosen ancestor through whom the Messiah came.

  2. They played a central role in God’s covenant plan, entrusted with the Law, the prophets, and the promise of the Christ.

  3. The New Testament reflects both continuity and conflict, as many Jews rejected Jesus while others embraced Him.

  4. Jewish identity is redefined in Christ, now marked by faith, not genealogy.

  5. God’s future includes Jews and Gentiles together, united in one body through the Gospel.

The story of the Jews in the Bible is not finished with the Old Testament, nor is it sidelined in the New. It is fulfilled, reframed, and extended. In Christ, the true Israel of God is revealed—not as an ethnic group, but as a redeemed people who trust in the Messiah and live under His reign.

Bible verses about the Jews:

  • Genesis 12:2–3, "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

  • Deuteronomy 7:6, "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth."

  • Romans 3:1–2, "What advantage then has the Jew…? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God."

  • John 4:22, "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews."

  • Romans 9:4–5, "Who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law… and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God."

  • Zechariah 8:23, "In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

  • Philippians 3:5, "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee."

  • Acts 2:5, "And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven."

  • Romans 2:28–29, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly… but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter."

  • Galatians 3:28–29, "There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."

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