Reference: Gentiles
American
A name given by the Hebrews to all those that had not received the Law of Moses. Foreigners who embraced Judaism, they called proselytes. Since the promulgation of the gospel, the true religion has been extended to all nations; God, who had promised by his prophets to call the Gentiles to the faith, with a superabundance of grace, having fulfilled his promise; so that the Christian church is composed principally of Gentile converts, the Jews being too proud of their privileges to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Redeemer. In the writings of Paul, the Gentiles are generally called Greeks, Ro 1:14,16; 1Co 1:22,24; Ga 3:28. So also in those of Luke, in the Ac 6:1; 11:20; 18:4. Paul is commonly called the apostle of the Gentiles, Ga 2:8; 1Ti 2:7, because he preached Christ principally to them; whereas Peter, etc., preached generally to the Jews, and are called apostles of the circumcision, Ga 2:8.
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The number of disciples increased at that time. A murmuring arose on the part of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene. When they came to Antioch they spoke to the Greeks and preached the Lord Jesus.
He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise.
I am not ashamed of the good news; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who exerts active faith (believes), to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The one who made Peter an apostle to the Jewish people (who are circumcised) also made me an apostle to the people of the nations (who are not circumcised).
The one who made Peter an apostle to the Jewish people (who are circumcised) also made me an apostle to the people of the nations (who are not circumcised).
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one (united) in Christ Jesus. (John 17:21) (Ephesians 4:4-6)
But he (Christ) reconciled you in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and without accusation before Him (God).
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. I do my share in behalf of his body, the congregation, to provide what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ.
Be an example of good works in all things, showing no corruption in your doctrine.
Easton
(Heb, usually in plural, goyim), meaning in general all nations except the Jews. In course of time, as the Jews began more and more to pride themselves on their peculiar privileges, it acquired unpleasant associations, and was used as a term of contempt.
In the New Testament the Greek word Hellenes, meaning literally Greek (as in Ac 16:1,3; 18:17; Ro 1:14), generally denotes any non-Jewish nation.
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Paul arrived at Derbe and Lystra where he saw a disciple named Timothy. He was the son of a Jewish woman, and his father was a Greek.
Paul wanted to have him travel with him. So he had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in the area. For they knew that his father was a Greek.
They all grabbed Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the court. Gallio did not care about this.
I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians, both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Fausets
Hebrew Gowy, "the nations" (or "pagan," derived from the Greek ethnee), as opposed to Israel (Ne 5:8). In Ge 10:5, "isles of the Gentiles," the term is used geographically in no invidious sense. In Ge 14:1, Tidal "king of nations" was probably chief of several nomadic wandering tribes of western Asia. In Jos 12:23 we read, "the king of the nations (the gentile foreigners) of Gilgal," the modern Moslem village Jiljule, six Roman miles N. of Antipatris. Goim is especially used of Galilee, bordering on and, even in Israelite times, much peopled with the Gilgal (Jg 4:2; Isa 9:1.) (See GALILEE.) "Greeks" in New Testament is used for Gentiles (Ac 14:1; 17:4; Ro 1:16; 10:12; 2:9-10; 1Co 10:32 margin).
With all the superiority of the gentile great world kingdoms, in military prowess, commerce, luxury, and the fine arts, Israel stood on an immense moral elevation above them, in the one point, nearness to God, and possession of His revealed will and word (Ex 19:5-6; Ps 147:19-20; 148:14; Ro 3:1-2). But this superiority was in order that Israel, as priests unto God, might be mediator of blessings unto all nations (Isa 61:6). The covenant from the first with Abraham contemplated that "in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed" (Ge 22:18). The Jews in national pride failed to see this, and despised the Gentiles Rejecting Messiah, they were "broken oft" from the olive, that the Gentiles might be" grafted in" (Ro 11:11-35).
The times of the Gentiles began with Judah's depression and captivity under Nebuchadnezzar, to whom God delegated the world empire (Jer 27:6-7), from whence Jeremiah's counsel to the Jews to submit to hint was true patriotism, not cowardice. Jerusalem has more or less been ever since "trodden down of the Gentiles," and shall be so "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Lu 21:24). Then shall the times of Israel begin with a glory eclipsing her past glory. "All Israel shall be saved." "The receiving of them shall be life from the dead" to the whole world (Mic 5:7; Isa 2:2-4; Re 11:2-15). The theocracy shall be restored with unparalleled splendor at the coming of Him "whose right it is" (Eze 21:27). The times of the gentile monarchies answer to Israel's seven times punishment (Le 26:18,21-24).
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From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.
In the days of King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim,
All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants. This is because you obeyed my command.'
If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.'
If you still will not listen to me, I will discipline you seven times for your sins.
If you act with hostility against me and are unwilling to obey me I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins. I will send wild animals among you. They will rob you of your children. They will destroy your cattle, and make you so few that your roads will be deserted. read more. If this discipline does not help and you still resist, I will resist you. I will punish you seven times for your sins.
Jehovah let them be conquered by Jabin, a Canaanite king who ruled in the city of Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived at Harosheth-Hagoyim.
I said to them: We have given whatever we were able to give, to make our brothers the Jews free. They were servants and prisoners of the nations. Would you now give up your brothers for a price? Are they to become our property? They said nothing. They answered not a word!
He speaks his word to Jacob, his laws and judgments to Israel. He has done nothing like this for any other nation. The other nations do not know the decisions he has handed down. Praise Jehovah!
He has given his people a strong leader, someone praiseworthy for his faithful ones, for the people of Israel, the people who are close to him. Praise Jehovah!
In the last days the mountain of the house of Jehovah will be established as the highest of the mountains and exalted above the hills. All the nations will stream to it. Then many people will come and say: Let us go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the House of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them. The law will go out from Zion. The word of Jehovah will go out from Jerusalem. read more. Then he will judge disputes between nations and settle matters between many people. They will beat (hammer) their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not fight against each other, and they will not learn war anymore.
There will be no more gloom for those who were suffering. In the past he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will honor Galilee of the Nations, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.
You will be called the priests of Jehovah. You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, you will boast in their riches.
Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him. All nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until Babylon is defeated. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave.
A ruin, a ruin, a ruin! Yes, I will make the city a ruin. But this will not happen until the one comes whom I have chosen and who has the legal right to punish the city. To him I will give it.
Like dew from Jehovah the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples. It will be like showers upon the grass that do not wait for man or for sons of men.
They will be killed by the edge of the sword. Some will be led captive into all the nations. The people of the nations will tread down Jerusalem until the time of the Nations is fulfilled.
Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue of the Jews at Iconium. There they spoke to a great crowd of Jews and Greeks who became believers.
Some of them were convinced (believed) and joined with Paul and Silas. A large crowd of the devout Greeks and of the prominent women also joined.
I am not ashamed of the good news; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who exerts active faith (believes), to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
[There will be] tribulation and distress on every person who works evil, for the Jew first and for the Greek. [There will be] glory, honor and peace to every one who does good works, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
What then is the superiority of the Jew? What is the benefit of circumcision? Much in every way. First they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
For there is no difference between Jew and Greek. The same Lord (God) of all is abounding in riches for all who call on him.
I ask: Did they stumble and fall? Certainly not! But rather through their fall into sin salvation has come to the nations. This will provoke them to jealousy. Now if their fall into sin means riches to the world, and their decrease means riches of the nations how much more will their full number mean? read more. I speak to you people of the nations. For I am the apostle to the nations and I glorify (honor) (praise) (celebrate) my ministry. If by any means I may provoke those who are of my flesh (fellow countrymen), and might save some of them. If their rejection means reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the first piece is holy, the lump is also holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches. Some of the branches are broken off. You, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them. Therefore you partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree with them. Do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. They were broken off because of unbelief! You stand by faith! Do not be conceited but be reverent. God did not spare the natural branches and he will not spare you! Observe both God's kindness and severity. Severity is for those who fail to continue. But kindness is for you as long as you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you will be cut off. If they do not continue in unbelief they will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again. If you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a garden olive tree: how much more could these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? I do not want you to be ignorant of this secret, lest you should be wise in your own conceits (estimation). Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in. In this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come out of Zion and will remove ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins. Concerning the good news, they are enemies for your sakes. With reference to the chosen ones, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. In times past you have not believed (did not obey) God. Yet you have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so these also do not believe now. Through the mercy shown they also may obtain mercy. For God has stopped all disobedience so he might show mercy to all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments. His ways are beyond human understanding! For who has known the mind of Jehovah? Or who has been his counselor? (Isaiah 40:13) Or who has first given to him, that it shall be repaid to him again? (Job 41:11)
Do not measure the court outside the temple for it is given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months. I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. read more. These (witnesses) are the two olive trees, and the two lamp stands standing before the God of the earth. If any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies. If any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These (two witnesses) have power to shut the sky so that it will not rain in the days of their prophecy. They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. When they finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them and conquer them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was impaled. The people and tribes and tongues and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and will look at them and refuse to bury them. The inhabitants of the earth will celebrate and rejoice over them. They will rejoice and send gifts to one another. This is because these two prophets tormented those who lived on the earth. After three and a half days the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet. Great fear fell upon all who saw them. They heard a great voice from heaven say: Come up here. So they ascended up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies beheld them. In that same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand men were slain in the earthquake, and the survivors were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has past. The third woe will come quickly. The seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of the world has become our God's, and his Christ will rule as king forever and ever.
Hastings
Morish
A name commonly used in scripture to denote any and every nation except Israel. At times, when Israel as a people is referred to, the same words are used for them. Thus
1. goi, qno" -->???, ?????, is translated 'nation,' and refers to the Jewish nation. De 26:5; Lu 7:5; Joh 11:48. In the plural the same words refer to the nations generally in distinction from Israel, and are translated 'nations,' 'Gentiles,' and 'heathen.' De 18:9; 32:43; Isa 60:3; 62:2; Joe 2:19; Ac 11:1,18; Acts:13:19; Ac 28:28; etc.
2. ????? (in plural) is translated 'Gentiles' in Joh 7:35; Ro 2:9-10; 3:9; 1Co 10:32; 12:13, in contrast to the Jews; but would be better translated 'Greeks,' as it is in most places.
God had raised a wall between the Jews and the Gentiles, which in Christ's death was broken down for believers, "to make in himself of twain one new man." Eph 2:14. "There is neither Jew nor Greek . . . . for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Ga 3:28. This does not touch unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, who are kept separate in God's present and future dealings.
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When you come into the land that Jehovah your God gives you, do not follow the disgusting practices of the nations that are there.
Answer before Jehovah your God: 'My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and traveled there. They were few in number but he became a great, mighty and populous nation.
Rejoice you nations with his people. He will avenge the blood of his servants. He will render vengeance on his adversaries, and will atone for his land and his people.
Nations will come to your light. Kings will come to the brightness of your illumination.
The nations will see your righteousness. All kings will see your glory. You will be given a new name that Jehovah will designate.
Jehovah answered his people: Behold, I will send you grain, new wine and oil. You will be satisfied with it. I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
He loves our nation and he also built our synagogue for us.
The Jews said among themselves: Where will this man go that we shall not find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
If we let him alone all men will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.
The apostles and brothers in Judea heard that the people of the nations also received the word of God.
When they heard this they objected no more and praised God, saying: God has granted the people of the nations repentance to life.
You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.
[There will be] tribulation and distress on every person who works evil, for the Jew first and for the Greek. [There will be] glory, honor and peace to every one who does good works, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Are we Jews in any better condition than the people of the nations? Not at all! I have already shown that Jews and the people of the nations are all under the power of sin.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one (united) in Christ Jesus. (John 17:21) (Ephesians 4:4-6)
For he is our peace, who made both (Jews and Gentiles) one, and broke down the middle barrier of partition.
Smith
Gen'tiles
(nations). All the people who were not Jews were so called by them, being aliens from the worship, rites and privileges of Israel. The word was used contemptuously by them. In the New Testament it is used as equivalent to Greek. This use of the word seems to have arisen from the almost universal adaption of the Greek language.
Watsons
GENTILES, COURT OF THE. Josephus says there was, in the court of the temple, a wall, or balustrade, breast-high, with pillars at particular distances, and inscriptions on them in Greek and Latin, importing that strangers were forbidden from entering farther; here their offerings were received, and sacrifices were offered for them, they standing at the barrier; but they were not allowed to approach to the altar. Pompey, nevertheless, went even into the sanctuary, but behaved with strict decorum; and the next day he commanded the temple to be purified, and the customary sacrifices to be offered. A little before the last rebellion of the Jews, some mutineers would have persuaded the priests to accept no victim not presented by a Jew; and obliged them to reject those which were offered by command of the emperor, for the Roman people. The wisest in vain remonstrated with them on the danger this would bring on their country; urged that their ancestors had never rejected the presents of Gentiles; and that the temple was mostly adorned with the offerings of such people; at the same time, the most learned priests, who had spent their whole lives in the study of the law, testified that their forefathers had always received the sacrifices of strangers.
From the above particulars, we learn the meaning of what the Apostle Paul calls "the middle wall of partition," between Jews and Gentiles, broken down by the Gospel.