Lexical Summary ethnos: Nation, Gentile, people Original Word: ἔθνος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Gentile, heathenProbably from etho; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan) -- Gentile, heathen, nation, people. see GREEK etho HELPS Word-studies 1484 éthnos (from ethō, "forming a custom, culture") – properly, people joined by practicing similar customs or common culture; nation(s), usually referring to unbelieving Gentiles (non-Jews). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably from a prim. root Definition a race, a nation, pl. the nations (as distinct from Isr.) NASB Translation Gentiles (93), nation (30), nations (37), pagans (1), people (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1484: ἔθνοςἔθνος, ἔθνους, τό: 1. a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together; a company, troop, swarm: ἔθνος ἑταίρων, ἔθνος Ἀχαιων, ἔθνος λαῶν, Homer, Iliad; ἔθνος μελισσαων, 2, 87; μυιαων ἐθνεα, ibid. 469. 2. "a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus (τό ἔθνος τό θῆλυ ἤ ἀρρεν, Xenophon, oec. 7, 26): πᾶν ἔθνος ἀνθρώπων, the human race, Acts 17:26 (but this seems to belong under the next entry). 3. race, nation: Matthew 21:43; Acts 10:35, etc.; ἔθνος ἐπί ἔθνος, Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8: οἱ ἄρχοντες, οἱ βασιλεῖς τῶν ἐθνῶν, Matthew 20:25; Luke 22:25; used (in the singular) of the Jewish people, Luke 7:5; Luke 23:2; John 11:48, 50-53; John 18:35; Acts 10:22; Acts 24:2 ( 4. (τά ἔθνη, like הַגויִם in the O. T., foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles, (cf. Trench, § xcviii.): Matthew 4:15 (Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν), 5. Paul uses τά ἔθνη even of Gentile Christians: Romans 11:13; Romans 15:27; Romans 16:4; Galatians 2:12 (opposite Galatians 2:13 to οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι, i. e. Jewish Christians), Galatians 2:14; Ephesians 3:1, cf. Ephesians 4:17 (Winers Grammar, § 59, 4 a.; Buttmann, 130 (114)). Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term In the New Testament the word embraces every people group outside ethnic Israel and, by extension, any collective identity distinguished by language, culture, or territorial boundaries. Context determines whether the stress falls on political entities (“nations”), ethnic identity (“peoples”), or the religious otherness of those without covenant privilege (“Gentiles”). Israel and the Nations From the call of Abraham onward Scripture keeps Israel and the surrounding peoples in theological tension. Israel exists “so that all the families of the earth may be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). By the first century this vocation had hardened into separation, yet the prophetic horizon still anticipated international worship (Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:16). The New Testament inherits both the holiness impulse and the missionary promise. Redemptive Trajectory 1. Anticipation: Simeon hails the infant Christ as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). Missionary Mandate Matthew 24:14 links worldwide gospel proclamation to the end of the age. Mark 13:10 echoes the same urgency. Paul interprets his Damascus-road calling as an apostleship “to carry My name before the Gentiles” (Acts 9:15), later rejoicing that “this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). Pauline Theology of the Nations • Equality in sin (Romans 3:29). Ecclesial Unity and Diversity Acts 13 inaugurates ethnically mixed congregations; Antioch becomes the model. Cultural tensions persist (Galatians 2:11-14), yet the rule stands: in Christ ethnic distinctives neither confer privilege nor erase identity (1 Corinthians 12:13). The offering collected from Gentile churches for Jerusalem (Romans 15:27) embodies grateful solidarity. Ethical Contrast Unbelieving nations illustrate pagan anxiety (Matthew 6:32), idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:20), and licentiousness (1 Thessalonians 4:5; 1 Peter 4:3). The church’s holy conduct is meant to silence such accusation (1 Peter 2:12). Eschatological Vision Revelation portrays both hostility and homage. The beast deceives the nations (Revelation 20:8), yet the Lamb “will shepherd all the nations with an iron scepter” (Revelation 12:5). Ultimately “the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2). Historical Setting in the First Century Under Rome, peoples retained strong ethnic identities while enjoying imperial infrastructure. Jewish communities were dispersed among them (diaspora synagogues in Acts). The term therefore carried political, cultural, and religious overtones familiar to both Greeks and Hebrews. Representative Texts • Matthew 12:21 – “In His name the Gentiles will put their hope.” Practical Implications for Ministry 1. The gospel confronts ethnocentrism; every culture stands under both judgment and grace. Statistical Overview in the New Testament Total occurrences: 163. Highest concentrations appear in Acts (48) and Romans (21), reflecting the narrative and theological pivot toward world mission. Revelation (21) underscores consummation themes, while the Gospels (33) prepare the ground through promise and warning. Forms and Transliterations εθνει έθνει ἔθνει έθνεσι εθνεσιν έθνεσιν ἔθνεσιν εθνη έθνη ἔθνη εθνος έθνος ἔθνος εθνους έθνους ἔθνους εθνων εθνών ἐθνῶν ethne ethnē éthne éthnē ethnei éthnei ethnesin éthnesin ethnon ethnôn ethnōn ethnō̂n ethnos éthnos ethnous éthnousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 4:15 N-GNPGRK: Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν NAS: THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES-- KJV: Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; INT: Galilee of the Gentiles Matthew 6:32 N-NNP Matthew 10:5 N-GNP Matthew 10:18 N-DNP Matthew 12:18 N-DNP Matthew 12:21 N-NNP Matthew 20:19 N-DNP Matthew 20:25 N-GNP Matthew 21:43 N-DNS Matthew 24:7 N-NNS Matthew 24:7 N-ANS Matthew 24:9 N-GNP Matthew 24:14 N-DNP Matthew 25:32 N-NNP Matthew 28:19 N-ANP Mark 10:33 N-DNP Mark 10:42 N-GNP Mark 11:17 N-DNP Mark 13:8 N-NNS Mark 13:8 N-ANS Mark 13:10 N-ANP Luke 2:32 N-GNP Luke 7:5 N-ANS Luke 12:30 N-NNP Luke 18:32 N-DNP Strong's Greek 1484 |