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Bible Encyclopedias
Hebrew of the Hebrews
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (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).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Hebrew of the Hebrews'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/h/hebrew-of-the-hebrews.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
