The Biblical Origins of Antisemitism

The Jewish people have the imprint of God’s name in their genes. And we all know what the world thinks of God.

By Dov Chaikin | | Topics: Antisemitism, BIBLE STUDY
Antisemitism, hatred of the Jewish people, should come as no surprise given how much the world hates God.
Antisemitism, hatred of the Jewish people, should come as no surprise given how much the world hates God. Photo: Miriam Alster/Flash90

Consider the last verse of Genesis 29:

“She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, ‘This time I will praise the Lord.’ So she named him Judah.”

“What has this got to do with antisemitism?” one might ask. Well, this writer will argue that it has a great deal to do with it; in fact, he contends that that is where the very origins of antisemitism are located. Admittedly, a good knowledge of Hebrew—perhaps more so, an innate feel for the language—is a requisite. To start with, let us quote the entire passage (Genesis 29:31-35):

When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen [ראה = ra’ah] my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard [שמע = shama’] that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached [ילוה = yillaveh] to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise [אודה = oddeh] the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

In order to fully comprehend the meaning of the name of Leah’s firstborn, it has to be viewed in its two parts: re’u [see]; ben [son]. One can just imagine Leah lording it over her sister/her rival: He loves you, but see – I have the son! As for “Simeon,” the Hebrew is shim’on; “Levi” is levvi.

While the name Judah [יהודה = Yehudah] does sound somewhat like one of the Hebrew words for “praise” (הודיה = hodayah) [it also has the element of “glory/splendor” (הוד = hod) in it, as may be seen], the word rendered in all translations as “praise”—אודה—(which could also be translated “thank”!) carries another meaning, one with far greater significance: “confess/acknowledge”! Consider also Leah’s “This time…” which she does not employ in the case of the first three.

One can conceive of Leah, having given birth to a fourth son, saying: “Now I am going to forget about my father’s gods; this time I will confess/acknowledge the God of my husband Jacob.” Which is why she called the boy’s name יהודה, the only name in Hebrew that has God’s ineffable name—the tetragrammaton—in it: י ה ו ה!

The word “Jew” [יהודי = yehuddi] being derived from “Judah” [יהודה], the Jewish people thus have the imprint of God’s name in their genes. And the world hates God!

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2 responses to “The Biblical Origins of Antisemitism”

  1. Susan says:
    January 17, 2023 at 5:02 pm

    Amen! The hatred of God is increasing day by day as we see by men’s actions. What is the greatest disappointment for me is that the leaders of this hatred can be found in the churches. As Israel begins its return to having its God rule, that hatred will become even more pronounced. The world wants to disprove God by minimizing His purpose for the Jewish people. But, as you said, His imprint is on them and He will rule from Jerusalem. Salvation is of the Jew!

  2. Anna Puffer says:
    January 17, 2023 at 11:37 pm

    Revelations 12 concurs. Antisemitism is Satanic in nature as Satan especially hates the Jewish people for bringing forth the Messiah Who is his defeat. Mary being the Jewish mother of Jesus stands for the Jewish people.
    13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.
    17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [c]Christ.
    It is possible to see verse 17 as describing three groups of people: those who keep the commandments of God (God fearing Jews), those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Christians) and those who have both (God fearing Christians, Jewish or gentile as all by faith descendants of Abraham).

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