They don't seem to be an ethnic group so much as a marginalized social class, but some have suggested a connection with the word "Hebrew."

他们并不像是少数民族,而更像是边缘化的社会阶级，但有些人指出它与希伯来这个词有关联“

耶鲁公开课 - 旧约导论课程节选

But they're from a very different social class, the patricians of Florence or Venice.

但他们的出身相比威尼斯,或者佛罗伦萨的贵族们而言不可同日而语

耶鲁公开课 - 欧洲文明课程节选

This was a radical concept in its day, evidently. The punishment should fit the crime, no more and no less for all free persons--granted slaves are not included--regardless of social class. Equality before the law.

很显然，这是当时最根本的概念，惩罚应该,与罪行相符，不偏向任何自由人，不顾社会阶级,当然奴隶除外，法律面前人人平等。

耶鲁公开课 - 旧约导论课程节选

It occured to me yesterday in my class that maybe someday there won't be social security numbers anymore, and on birth everybody will be given an e-mail address.

我昨天上课的时候想到,或许有天大家出生时,得到的将不是社会福利号码,而是一个邮箱地址。

麻省理工公开课 - 电影哲学课程节选