1703. That the term “Hebrew” is predicated in the Word of some form of servitude, is evident from the following passages.

In Moses:

When thy brother, a Hebrew, or a Hebrewess, shall be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years, then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee (Deuteronomy 15:12); where it is said “a Hebrew” and “a Hebrewess,” because servitude is treated of.

In Jeremiah:

At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, who hath been sold unto thee, and hath served thee six years (Jeremiah 34:9, 14); where in like manner the term “Hebrew” is used, because servitude is treated of; otherwise the sons of Jacob are not in the Prophets called “Hebrews.”

In Samuel:

The Philistines said, Be strong, and be men, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews as they have been to you (1 Samuel 4:9); where the word is used for the same reason.

[2] In Moses:

Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let My people go, that they may serve Me (Exodus 9:1, 13; 10:3); where they are called “Hebrews” from serving. The wife of Potiphar, speaking of Joseph:

Called unto the men of her house, and said unto them, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us (Genesis 39:14).

Joseph is here called “a Hebrew” because he was a servant there. The chief of the butlers said unto Pharaoh:

There was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and he interpreted to us our dreams (Genesis 41:12).

Moreover, the Egyptians called the sons of Israel “Hebrews,” because they were servants, or in servitude, as is known (see Exodus 1:15-16, 19, and other places).