Around 2,000 years ago or earlier, the Jewish religion was not referred to by a single, unified term in the way modern religions are labeled. Instead, it was often described contextually by its practitioners, who were known as Israelites, Judeans, or Hebrews, depending on the historical period and context.
The people who practiced what we now call Judaism referred to their religious and cultural practices as the "way of the Lord", "the Law" (referring to the Torah), or the "tradition of the fathers". They saw themselves as following the covenant (berit) between God (Yahweh) and the people of Israel, established through figures like Abraham and Moses. The term "Torah" (meaning "teaching" or "law") was central, encompassing both the written Torah (the Pentateuch) and the broader oral traditions.
- Pre-Exilic Period (Before 587 BCE): During the First Temple period, the religion was centered on the worship of Yahweh, with practices tied to the Temple in Jerusalem, sacrifices, and adherence to the Mosaic Law. It was less a "religion" in the modern sense and more a national and covenantal way of life for the Israelites.
- Second Temple Period (c. 516 BCE–70 CE): By 2,000 years ago, during the Second Temple period, the religion was often referred to in Greek sources as Ioudaismos (Judaism), especially by Hellenistic Jews and outsiders. However, Jews themselves might not have used this term widely. They emphasized living according to the Torah and the covenant, with practices shaped by the Temple, synagogue study, and sects like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes.
- Hebrew Terms: Internally, terms like Yahad (community, used by groups like the Essenes) or references to the "People of Israel" were common. The focus was on being part of the covenantal community rather than naming the religion as a distinct entity.
The Jewish people of this era did not typically use a specific name like "Judaism" for their religion. They described their practices in terms of fidelity to the Torah, the covenant, or the ways of their ancestors, with an emphasis on their unique relationship with God.