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Glite Dictionary
Habiru

Habiru

1 9.9
Ancient people in the Near East who lived outside normal society
  • proper noun
: Habiru
  • The Habiru were known for their nomadic lifestyle and lack of centralized governance.

Examples

  • Lectures on the habits of the Bedouin and on the hieroglyphics of the ancient Habiru!

    Fiction book (1992)

  • That's why Moses kept the Habiru out in the desert for 40 years—it took that long for them to accept "I AM" as God in preference to their Egyptian idols.

    Blog text (11)

  • The ancient texts frequently reference the Habiru as a marginalized group in Near Eastern societies.

  • Historians often debate the origins of the Habiru and their relationship with other ancient peoples.

Surface Forms

Habiru main

Etymology

Habiru appears in very old Near Eastern records and named people who lived 'outside' normal society — for example, hired fighters, migrant workers, or nomads. A helpful way to remember it is to think of Hebrew and the idea of 'crossing over', because some scholars see a link between the names; that is why Habiru is used today for stateless or marginal groups in ancient stories.