The Bible doesn't explicitly state, "Abraham was the first Hebrew." However, Abraham is widely considered the first Hebrew due to the association of the term with his ancestor, Eber.
Here's why:
* Genesis 10:21 mentions Eber as the ancestor of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him was born all the children of Eber.
* The term "Hebrew" (עִבְרִי, 'Ivri) is believed to be derived from "Eber" (עֵבֶר).
* Abraham is a descendant of Eber. The genealogy in Genesis 11:10-26 traces Abraham's lineage back to Shem and then to Eber.
* The term "Hebrew" is first used to describe Abraham in Genesis 14:13, where it says, "Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew."
Therefore, while there's no explicit verse declaring him the "first Hebrew," Abraham's connection to Eber and the initial application of the term "Hebrew" to him makes him the figure generally regarded as the first Hebrew.