Heathen [nave]
HEATHENUnder this head are grouped all who are not embraced under the Abrahamic covenant. Cast out of Canaan, Lev. 18:24, 25; Psa. 44:2; and their land given to Israel, Psa. 78:55; 105:44; 135:12; 136:21, 22; Isa. 54:1-3.
Excluded from the temple, Lam. 1:10.
Wicked Practices of. See: Idolatry.
Divine revelations given to: Abimelech, Gen. 20:3-7; Pharaoh, Gen. 41:1-28; Balaam, Num. 22; Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4:1-18; Belshazzar, Dan. 5:5, 24-29; Cyrus, 2 Chr. 36:23; Ezra 1:1-4; the Magi, Matt. 2:1-11; the centurion, Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-9; Cornelius, Acts 10:1-7.
Pious people among, Isa. 65:5; Acts 10:35.
Instances of: Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18-20.
Abimelech, Gen. 20.
Balaam, Num. 22.
Jethro, Ex. 18.
Cyrus, Ezra 1:1-3.
Eliphaz, Job 4.
Bildad, Job 8.
Zophar, Job 11.
Elihu, Job 32.
Nebuchadnezzar, after his restoration, Dan. 4.
The Ninevites, Jonah 3:5-10.
The Magi, Matt. 2:1-12.
The centurion of Capernaum, Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:2-9; of Caesarea, Acts 10.
See: Gentiles; Strangers.
Heathen [ebd]
(Heb. plural goyum). At first the word goyim denoted generally all the nations of the world (Gen. 18:18; comp. Gal. 3:8). The Jews afterwards became a people distinguished in a marked manner from the other goyim. They were a separate people (Lev. 20:23; 26:14-45; Deut. 28), and the other nations, the Amorites, Hittites, etc., were the goyim, the heathen, with whom the Jews were forbidden to be associated in any way (Josh. 23:7; 1 Kings 11:2). The practice of idolatry was the characteristic of these nations, and hence the word came to designate idolaters (Ps. 106:47; Jer. 46:28; Lam. 1:3; Isa. 36:18), the wicked (Ps. 9:5, 15, 17).
The corresponding Greek word in the New Testament, ethne, has similar shades of meaning. In Acts 22:21, Gal. 3:14, it denotes the people of the earth generally; and in Matt. 6:7, an idolater. In modern usage the word denotes all nations that are strangers to revealed religion.
HEATHEN [smith]
[
