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Glossary Definition of word.
non-Israelite
The Scripture often classifies humanity into two: Israelites and non-Israelites. “When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel” (Dt. 32:8). The Israelites were also called Hebrews or Jews. The phrase non-Israelite has significance after the Israelites developed into a recognized people group. The non-Israelites were called Gentiles, the peoples, or the nations. In the New Testament, the division is given as the “Jews and Gentiles” in the KJV, NIV, and TLB or as the “Jews and Greeks” in the ASV, NAS, RSV, and NKJV (e.g., Ro. 3:9). Among the most popular nations of the non-Israelites found in the Old Testament were the Egyptians, Ishmaelites, Ammonites, Moabites, Philistines, Amalekites, Ethiopians, Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes, Persians, etc. In general, those nations most distinctly different than Israel were those nations who came from Ham and Japheth, two of humanity's three forefathers (1Ch. 1:1-37). In the New Testament, the non-Israelites were the Romans and Greeks of various subgroups. A third classification is added in the New Testament: the Church. “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1Co. 10:32). Non-Israelites are found thoughout the Old Testament, but the primary focus of the Old Testament is upon the Israelites. In the New Testament, the focus begins upon the Israelites, but shifts to the Church (comprised of Jews and Gentiles). As is true of the Old Testament, the non-Israelites play a regular background role in the New Testament.
Also see Israelite. |
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