“The God of the Hebrews”: A Deeper Meaning

God reveals Himself to Moshe and commands him: “You shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has appeared to us. And now, please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness, that we may offer sacrifices to the Lord our God” (Shemot 3:18).

Why “the God of the Hebrews”?

Why does Moshe present God to Pharaoh specifically as “the God of the Hebrews”? Especially since the Torah uses the form “ha-Ivri’im,” with an extra letter, rather than the simpler “Ivri’im.”

The idea expressed here is that the identity of a “Hebrew” is not only a national trait, but a personal one. It defines each and every individual.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that it would have been enough for God to have one person with courage like Avraham, of whom the Sages said: “The entire world stood on one side, and he stood on the other side,” and therefore he was called a Hebrew. Yet this courage and strength of character were inherited by all his descendants.

By using the term “Hebrews,” Moshe is declaring something powerful: every individual represents the entire nation. Each person possesses the courage to stand alone, to uphold truth, and to carry the mission of the people even against the entire world.

A Nation Like a Living Tree

Rabbi Hirsch adds a striking image. While other nations are often compared to animals, Israel is compared to a tree.

An animal can be destroyed with a single blow. But a tree is different. Its vitality can reawaken from any part. Even if it is cut down, a single branch, a small shoot, a leaf, or even a bud can bring it back to life and ensure its continuity.

We are not merely “Hebrews” as a group. We are “Hebrews” as individuals. The same spirit lives within every member of the nation, from the greatest elder to the simplest individual. This is why the Jewish people cannot be destroyed. In each individual is reflected the spirit, courage, and strength of the whole.

Knowing Your Own Value

These ideas are intended to strengthen a person, to give hope and awaken ambition.

As taught by Rabbeinu Yonah, a healthy sense of self-worth is the first step in a person’s spiritual development.

Every person must know that they are a “Hebrew.” They are unique. They have the potential to lead and uplift. When a person is aware of their value, they are far less likely to fall into negative patterns. A person who respects themselves does not easily degrade or diminish who they are.

When Things Get Worse Before They Get Better

At the end of the portion, Moshe and Aaron fulfill their mission and ask Pharaoh to release the people. Instead of improvement, the situation worsens. Pharaoh increases the burden of labor.

Seeing this, Moshe turns to God and asks: “Why have You done evil to this people? Why have You sent me? From the moment I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has made things worse for this people, and You have not saved them” (Shemot 5:22–23).

God responds: “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

When Human Strength Ends, Redemption Begins

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that this moment was intentional.

First, the full depth of helplessness and despair had to be revealed. It needed to become clear that human effort alone could not achieve redemption, and that appealing to Pharaoh would not help.

Moshe and Aaron were required to stand before the people stripped of any illusion of power. Only then could redemption begin as a direct act of God.

At that moment, all traces of natural assistance disappear, and it becomes clear that Moshe is only an instrument, and that all action is truly the work of God.

A Message for Every Personal Struggle

This is a lesson for every personal exile we experience in life.

Often, it is specifically when all human hope seems lost that God’s hand is revealed in its full strength. What looks like failure or worsening conditions may actually be the stage just before transformation.

And in that moment, a person is called to remember who they are: a “Hebrew,” someone who carries within them strength, resilience, and the ability to stand firm, even when everything else seems to fall apart.