(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).