What is the difference between Jews and Samaritans? Do Jews vs Samaritans have the same religious beliefs and practices?
Although Jews and Samaritans share ancient Israelite heritage, their religious beliefs and practices are different.
A Jew is an adherent of Judaism- a Jew is a person with religious beliefs and the true descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Currently, there are over 15.9 million Jews worldwide. They trace their origins to the Israelites, the descendants of those who emerged from within the Canaanites.
The Jews created the Iron Age kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
The Samaritans trace their lineage to Ephraim and Manasseh- the tradition of the Samaritans is related to the group of descendants emerging from the northern Israelite tribes who were not chased out of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
We have discussed more about the differences between Jews and Samaritans in this article, so continue reading to find out more.
Jews
According to Britannica, a Jew is any individual whose religion is Judaism. Jews are a nation originating from the Israelites of the ancient Near East- the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
They are the true descendants of the Hebrews of the Bible. Although Judaism is an ethnic religion, it’s not all Jews that practice the religion. Jewish people are welcoming new converts as they are accepted into the Jewish community.
Before now, a Yĕhūdhī was originally a member of Judah. They must either belong to the tribe of Judah or of the subsequent Kingdoms of Judah.
Jewish people were initially referred to as Hebrews (‘Ivrim) or Israelites (Yisre’ Elim). They were called Hebrews and Israelites from when they entered the Holy Land to the end of the Babylonian Exile.
After that, Yĕhūdhī was the common term used to refer to all adherents of Judaism.
Also Read: Esthetic vs Aesthetic: Difference and Comparison
Etymology
According to Wikipedia, “Jew” is a word derived from the Hebrew word Yĕhūdhī- the plural being “Yĕhūdhīm”.
The term “Yĕhūdhī” is used to describe the people of the Israelite Kingdom of Judah. Yĕhūdhī is a word also used to differentiate the descendants of Israel from the Samaritans and the Gentiles.
Samaritans
Samaritans are individuals who belong to a now nearly extinct community. They claim to be related to the group of descendants emerging from the northern Israelite tribes who were not chased out of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
The Samaritans choose to call themselves Bene Yisrael, which translates to the Children of Israel. They also call themselves Shamerin, which translates to Observant Ones.
Samaritans consider their religion as the true religion of the ancient Israelites. The Samaritans see modern Judaism as an altered religion. They believe they practice the true ancient religion of Israel.
Samaritans regard Judaism as a closely related religion. The Samaritans believe that the holiest place on Earth is Mount Gerizim and not the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Currently, there are millions of Jews worldwide, while only a few hundreds of Samaritans are in the world. The population of the Samaritans reduced significantly during the suppression of the Samaritan revolt against the Byzantine Empire.
Many converted to Christianity under the Byzantine Empire and the rest would later convert to Islam after the Muslim Conquest of the Levant.
Etymology
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “Samaritan” is from Middle English, from Old English- from Late Latin ‘samaritanus’- from Greek ‘samarites’.
Also Read: Mom vs Son: Difference and Comparison
Jews vs Samaritans: Key Differences between Jews and Samaritans
Jews and Samaritans may share ancient Israelite heritage, but their religious beliefs and practices are different.
Jewish people traditionally trace their lineage to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are the true descendants of the Hebrews of the Bible.
Although Judaism is an ethnic religion, it’s not all Jews that practice the religion. Jewish people are welcoming new converts as they are accepted into the Jewish community.
In contrast, Samaritans trace their lineage to Ephraim and Manasseh- the tradition of the Samaritans is related to the group of descendants emerging from the northern Israelite tribes who were not chased out of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
Samaritans consider their religion as the true religion of the ancient Israelites. The Samaritans see modern Judaism as an altered religion. They believe they practice the true ancient religion of Israel.
The division between Jews and Samaritans became more intense after the ancient Kingdom of Israel was divided. Historically, the Jews settled in the southern region, while the Samaritans remained in the northern region.
Another difference between the Jews vs the Samaritans is their religious beliefs regarding the Scripture.
Jews recognize the Tanakh, which is the Torah, Writings, and Prophets. But the Samaritans adhere to Samaritan Pentateuch and they perceive the Torah differently from the Jews.
Historically, a cultural difference grew between the Jews and the Samaritans. The tension between Jews and Samaritans was described in the New Testament.
Another difference between Jews vs Samaritans is the population of the religious community. You have millions of Jews today encompassing ethnicities and traditions, while only smaller communities of Samaritans reside in parts of Israel and the West Bank.
Also Read: Que vs Queue: Difference and Comparison
Jews vs Samaritans: Comparison Chart
| Jews | Samaritans | |
| Origins | Descends from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. | Descend from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. |
| Scriptures | Recognizes the Tenakh | Uses the Samaritan Pentateuch. |
| Current population | Over 15.9 million people across communities. | Smaller communities in present-day Israel and the West Bank. |
| Historical relations | Separate identity post-Israel split. | Developed distinct religious practices. |
| Associated kingdom | Kingdom of Judah (southern region) | Kingdom of Israel (northern region). |
Also Read: Pedophile vs Pervert: Difference and Comparison
Jews vs Samaritans: The Hatred Between Jews and Samaritans
As we said earlier, Jews and Samaritans disagree with each other’s religious beliefs. There is a long-standing hatred between Jews and Samaritans.
Historically, the hatred between Jews and Samaritans dates back to the days of the patriarchs. The twelve sons of Jacob became the twelve tribes of Israel we know today.
Joseph was loved by his father Jacob and it made his brother despise him. They attempted to murder Joseph but later sold him into slavery.
God promised to make Joseph a king, a ruler and a great son from the family of Jacob. Jacob blessed Joseph before he died and called him a “fruitful bough by a well”.
Jacob’s blessings to Joseph were fulfilled. The lands given to the tribes of Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh were fertile. The fertile land became Samaria.
The Kingdom of Israel would later be divided into two Kingdoms.
Assyria conquered the Kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C., taking a large population into captivity. The foreign invaders then allowed the Gentile colonists from Babylon, Ava, Cuthah, Hamath, and Sepharvaim to settle in the conquered lands.
The Assyrians and the Gentiles brought pagan idols to the lands.
In 600 B.C., the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by Babylon. The people were carried into captivity but 70 years later, over 40,000 people were allowed to return and rebuild the city of Jerusalem.
Conclusion
Jews and Samaritans may share ancient Israelite heritage, but their religious beliefs and practices are different. The division between Jews and Samaritans became more intense after the ancient Kingdom of Israel was divided.
Another difference between the Jews vs the Samaritans is their religious beliefs regarding the Scripture.
Jews recognize the Tanakh, which is the Torah, Writings, and Prophets. But the Samaritans adhere to Samaritan Pentateuch and they perceive the Torah differently from the Jews.