Was Jesus a Jew?

The word “Jew” derives from the old English term “Judean,” which refers to the descendants of Judah, fourth son of the patriarch Jacob (who was later called “Israel”). The genealogies of Joseph and Mary, listed in the books of Matthew and Luke, show that they were both descendants from Judah, through David’s lineage. Christ was therefore not only a descendant of Judah (not only a Jew), but also of the royal line (being the son of David, as many scriptures show).

In Hebrews 7:14, the apostle Paul wrote, “It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah.” The apostle John called Him the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5). Long before Christ’s birth, Moses prophesied (Gen. 49:10) that Shiloh—the Messiah and Prince of Peace—would arise from Judah.

In John 4:22, when speaking to the woman at the well, Christ said, “You [Samaritans] worship you know not what: we [the Jews] know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” Christ clearly knew that He was a Jew. But, as John 1:11 shows, the Jews rejected Him: He came “unto His own, and His own received Him not.”

God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom. 8:3). Christ inherited the bloodline and physical traits of His mother Mary (Heb. 2:14). He was born, by a divine begettal, into the tribe of Judah. He WAS a Jew!