As I write this blog, today is Juneteenth (short for ?June Nineteenth?). This day marks the commemoration of the day federal troops in 1865 arrived in Galveston to take up command posture in the state of Texas. The troops also had the glad task of ensuring that all enslaved people be finally emancipated. The troops? arrival in Galveston came two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation! Those languishing in slavery spent two and a half additional years in enslavement all because the news of their freedom had not reached them yet. The now federal holiday Juneteenth is celebrated in honor of the "official" end to slavery in the United States.

The joy those former slaves experienced must have been greater than any they had experienced before the wonderful day when the news of liberty entered into their weary ears. I imagine, the tears of joy flowed and flowed. There was a similar joy for me when I discovered my true identity. In that moment, I went from unknown descendant of slaves to a member royal family written about in the very book I had read my whole life! The Bible.

Coming into the awakening of our true identity as the "Chosen People" for many has been extraordinarily joyful and enlightening experience! But for many others it has been extremely frustrating as we realize the degree to which we have been lied to and deceived. We have lived our whole lives being mistreated and undervalued only to discover that we are not merely the descendants of the enslaved, but Hebrews! The people of the Book! We excitedly and proudly wear the word "HEBREW" on our shirts, hats and shoes. We are eager to properly represent our newfound heritage -- HEBREW!

But...upon researching the word Hebrew, I was surprised to find that we may not be Hebrews after all. Let's look at a little history and do a little word study...

As many of you know and have discovered, the descendants of slaves are the true "Israelites" of the scriptures. In our studies, we have been informed that the Igbos people of Nigeria were abd are thought to be immigrants from the biblical tribes of Gad, Asher, Dan, and Naphtali. After decades in captivity, the name of this clan of Igbos people became a generalized term for the "chosen people" who had been sold into slavery. The colonizers and slave traders in order to label their spoils of conquest for transport and sale, gave names to those slaves who were of Igbo stock. These particular slaves were a much desired booty among the enslavers. The Igbos were known to be industrious, strong, intelligent and efficient workers. Because of the desire for this industrious group, the majority of those taken into slavery from the continent of Africa were those we were identified as Igbos.

Now, a little word study... The Ancient "Hebrew" word for "Hebrew" is screenshot above. Let's take a look at the letters to determine if the word for Hebrew is accurate. We see that the first letter in the word is the AYN - A. The second letter is the Bayt - B and the third letter is the Rash/Resh - R. The final letter is the Yad/yod - Y. All put together, we have ABRY or Abary. Some say ABRYth. This word is derived from the name of our ancestor - ABAR or ("Eber"). The plural form of the word is ABARYM. So, when we look at the original text, we see the word "Hebrew" nowhere. So where did it come from? 

My theory is that during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, those same ancestors of ours who were known by the clan association of Igbo, became known by that tribal nomenclature. In the same way that the brand "Band-Aid" now refers to all bandages, no matter the brand, a fair number of ancestors became known as Igbos, no matter their true tribe. 

Additionally, just as most of our ancestors living near or along the Niger River became known as Negroes or the other infamous "N" word, we see a similar event taking place leading to our ancestors being named and labeled "Hebrew". The Igbos who had become a commodity to be desired and were sold labeled as the prized Igbos. In the course of time, the name Igbo was amended to "Eboos" and then to "Heeboes" and eventually to "Hebrews".

So, you see, the name Hebrew is the invention of the slave master! This is why returning to the original language is so important for us. In ZaphanYah/ Zephaniah 3:9, we read:  "For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of YAHUAH, to serve Him with one consent. We were not named "Hebrews" in the scriptures. We are the descendants of ABAR (Eber). The descendants of Abraham. We are ABARYM / ABRYth, but certainly not Hebrews!

We are in a constant state of unlearning the lies as truth is once again being revealed regarding us and to us. Though many of us call ourselves Hebrews, that is not who we are! So, is it wrong to call yourself a Hebrew?

No, it is not... As our understanding increases, we increase with it. We are all in varying stages of awakening and if coming under the banner of the word Hebrew helps us to feel as if we are part of one another, then so be it. For now, we will be Hebrews!

But... there is a day coming. A day when that which is perfect has come and all that has been hidden will be revealed. And we will be called by our proper and correct name. Until then.... it is good enough to know the truth of who we really are, even if the labeled being applied is not completely accurate.

So as you commemorate Juneteenth on this day, let your mind hearken back the joy our ancestors felt as the news of their freed status wafted on the breeze in Galveston and allow your heart to revel in the joy that is on the horizon for us when we are gathered out of the places to which we as a people have been scattered and we are brought HOME. We will not only be brought back to our homeland and stand in our rightful places but we will also have true wealth, status, language, heritage and name restored! Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be!! Until then, we wait in hope and in eager anticipation!

Morah MarYaH

Trumpet's Call Ministries