Latin and subsequently English translators selectively used the term ''gentiles'' when the context for the base term "peoples" or "nations", Hebrew, ''גוי'' (''goy'') and ''נכרי'' (''nokhri'') in the Hebrew Bible and the Greek word ''ἔθνη'' (''éthnē'') in the New Testament, indicated non-Israelite peoples or nations. The term ''gentiles'' is derived from Latin, used for contextual translation, and not an original Hebrew or Greek word from the Bible.
Following Christianization of the Roman Empire, the general implication of the word ''gentile'' became "non-Jew".
The most important of such Hebrew words was ''goyim'' (singular, ''goy''), a term with the broad meaning of "peoples" or "nations" which was sometimes used to refer to Israelites, but most commonly as a generic label for peoples. Strong's Concordance defines ''goy'' as "nation, people, usually of non-Hebrew people, or of descendants of Abraham, or of Israel, or of a swarm of locusts or other animals (fig.) ''Goyim'' = 'nations'." Strongs #1471
In the King James Version, ''Gentile'' is only one of several words used to translate ''goy'' or ''goyim''. It is translated as "nation" 374 times, "heathen" 143 times, "Gentiles" 30 times, and "people" 11 times. Some of these verses, such as Genesis 12:2 ("I will make of thee a great nation") and Genesis 25:23 ("Two nations are in thy womb") refer to Israelites or descendants of Abraham. Other verses, such as Isaiah 2:4 and Deuteronomy 11:23 are generic references to any nation. Typically the KJV restricts the translation to "Gentile" when the text is specifically referring to non-Hebrew people. For example, the only use of the word in Genesis is in chapter 10, verse 5, referring to the peopling of the world by descendants of Japheth, "By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations."
In the New Testament, the Greek word "ethnos" is used for peoples or nations in general, and is typically translated by the word "people", as in John 11:50 ("Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."). The translation "gentiles" is used in some instances, as in Matthew 10:5–6 to indicate non-Israelite peoples:
In that instance, ''Gentiles'' becomes a reference to pagan cultures of the period.
Altogether, the word is used 123 times in the King James Version of the Bible, and 168 times in the New Revised Standard Version.
Attached to this question was the circumcision controversy in early Christianity, i.e., does a Gentile need to follow all of the Mosaic Laws. The position of the Judaizers was that this was a necessity, taking Christianity to remain fully within Judaism, including obedience to the Torah Laws. The opposite position was proposed by Paul of Tarsus who argued against the Judaizers, such as the Incident at Antioch. The Council of Jerusalem decided in favour of a liberal compromise, allowing converts to forgo circumcision, but requiring that they follow a minimal portion of the Law, called the ''Apostolic Decree'' (), which may parallel Jewish Noahide Law.
In order to avoid confrontation and pejorative connotations, Latter-day Saints in the 21st century avoid using the word ''Gentile'' in everyday matters, preferring "non-member". ''Gentile'' is usually reserved for discussions of scriptural passages.
Category:Bible Category:Christian terms Category:Ethnic and religious slurs Category:Ethno-cultural designations Category:Judaism terms Category:Judeo-Christian topics Category:Latin words and phrases Category:Latter Day Saint doctrines, beliefs, and practices
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