The Hebrew word ibriy (עִבְרִי) means Hebrew — the term used to identify the descendants of Abraham as a distinct people. It derives from the root abar (H5674), meaning to cross over. An ibriy is literally one who has crossed over.
The term ibriy appears in contexts where Israel is distinguished from other nations — often in the mouth of foreigners. The etymology suggests a people defined by their crossing: Abraham crossed the Euphrates, the Israelites crossed the Jordan, and spiritually the Hebrew identity is one of transition. This "crossing" motif reaches its fullness in the New Testament: the believer crosses from death to life (John 5:24).