Encyclopedia entry
Heathen
(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).
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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.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
[Gentiles]
In the Bible
145
Verses where Heathen is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 16:24
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
- 1 Chronicles 16:35
Then cry out: ‘Save us, O God of our salvation; gather and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, that we may glory in Your praise.’
- 2 Chronicles 20:6
and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You.
- 2 Chronicles 28:3
Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
- 2 Chronicles 33:2
And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
- 2 Chronicles 33:9
So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
+139 more verses naming Heathen.
Scripture on Heathen
91
See all 91 +−
- Obadiah 1Leviticus 262 Kings 17Nehemiah 5Psalms 44Psalms 79Lamentations 1Ezekiel 22Galatians 32 Samuel 221 Chronicles 162 Chronicles 33Nehemiah 6Psalms 2Psalms 18Psalms 46Psalms 59Psalms 96Jeremiah 10Jeremiah 49Lamentations 4Ezekiel 11Ezekiel 25Ezekiel 31Ezekiel 34Ezekiel 37Joel 2Joel 3Zechariah 14Malachi 1Matthew 6Genesis 18Leviticus 20Leviticus 25Deuteronomy 4Deuteronomy 28Joshua 231 Kings 112 Kings 162 Kings 212 Chronicles 202 Chronicles 282 Chronicles 36Ezra 6Psalms 10Psalms 33Psalms 47Psalms 78Psalms 80Psalms 94Psalms 98Psalms 102Psalms 105Psalms 110Psalms 111Psalms 115Psalms 126Psalms 135Psalms 149Isaiah 16Isaiah 36Jeremiah 9Jeremiah 18Jeremiah 46Ezekiel 7Ezekiel 12Ezekiel 16Ezekiel 23Ezekiel 28Ezekiel 30Ezekiel 38Amos 9Micah 5Habakkuk 1Habakkuk 3Zephaniah 2Haggai 2Zechariah 1Zechariah 8Zechariah 9Matthew 18Acts 4Acts 222 Corinthians 11Galatians 1Galatians 2
Heathen references
5
Voices on Heathen
2
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.