“The Chosen People” is all of humanity Christ taught and showed that all beings are the Children of God
The concept of Jews as the chosen people is the belief that the Jewish people, via the Mosaic and Abrahamic covenants, are selected to be in a covenant with God. It is a core element of Judaism, although its meaning has been interpreted in different ways and has varied over time.[1][2]
Much has been written about these topics in rabbinic literature.
In modern times, the three largest Jewish denominations — Orthodox Judaism, Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism — maintain the belief that Jews have been chosen by God for a purpose. Sometimes this choice is seen by believers as charging the Jewish people with a specific mission—to be a light unto the nations, and to exemplify the covenant with God as described in the Torah.
The term "chosen people" (Hebrew: הָעָם הַנִבְחַר hāʿām hanīvḥar) is a rabbinic term, not used directly in the Bible. The biblical terms ʿam segullah and ʿam nahallah mean “treasure people” and “heritage people” respectively.[7]
"For thou art a holy people".[13]
The Torah also says,
"Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me from all the peoples, for all the earth is mine."[14]
God promises that he will never exchange his people with any other:
"And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you."[15]
Other Torah verses about chosenness,
- "And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation"
- "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all people; but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your ancestors."
The obligation imposed upon the Israelites was emphasized by the prophet Amos:[18]
"You only have I singled out of all the families of the earth: therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities."
Isaiah and Jeremiah viewed God's loving choice of Israel as a means to teaching monotheism, combatting idolatry, curbing human arrogance, ending violence, lust, greed, extreme chauvinism and warfare, and ushering in a new society.
The Nation of Israel is likened to the olive. Just as this fruit yields its precious oil only after being much pressed and squeezed, so Israel's destiny is one of great oppression and hardship, in order that it may thereby give forth its illuminating wisdom. - Ex. R. xxxvi:1.
Some Christians believe that the Jews were God's chosen people,[58] but because of Jewish rejection of Jesus, the Christians in turn received that special status.[59] This doctrine is known as Supersessionism.