Lexical Summary (Not Used): (Not Used) (Not Used)Part of Speech: Transliteration: (Not Used) (Not Used) Topical Lexicon Greek BackgroundIn classical Greek life the term denoted a “resident alien,” one who had permanently relocated yet did not hold the full rights of native citizenship. Such persons lived under the protection of the city but remained culturally distinct. The Septuagint writers adopted the word to describe Israelites uprooted by divine judgment and later replanted in the land by covenant mercy, thereby giving the civic idea a redemptive dimension. Old Testament Usage in the Septuagint 1. Post-exilic identity Ezra repeatedly calls the returning captives “the exiles,” underscoring both their displacement and the Lord’s restorative purpose (Ezra 4:1; 6:19–21; 8:35). The same group is distinguished from the surrounding peoples in Nehemiah 7:6 and Nehemiah 8:17. The term thus marks a community chastened by judgment yet preserved for renewed covenant obedience. 2. The captivity records Lists of temple servants, genealogies, and census data employ the word to separate those who had experienced deportation from those who had remained in the land (Ezra 2:1; Nehemiah 7:61). God’s faithfulness to His promises is traced through these names, showing that exile did not annul election. 3. Prophetic commentary Jeremiah 29:4–7 (Greek text) addresses the “exiles” in Babylon, urging them to seek the city’s welfare while awaiting return. The vocabulary emphasizes that even in foreign surroundings God’s people remain under His sovereign hand. The Exile Motif in Salvation History The Babylonian deportation, followed by the return, forms a historical parable of sin, judgment, repentance, and restoration. By choosing a civic word for “resident alien,” the Septuagint underscores two truths: • Divine sovereignty: relocation was not random but a disciplinary act of Yahweh (2 Chronicles 36:17–21). Foreshadowing Christ and the Church Matthew’s genealogy hinges on “the deportation to Babylon” (Matthew 1:11), linking the Messiah’s arrival to Israel’s deepest national wound. The Lord Jesus embodies the pattern: humiliation, obedience, and exaltation. Likewise, the church is scattered yet elect (1 Peter 1:1), awaiting final homecoming in the new creation. Resonance in the New Testament Although the specific word does not appear in the Greek New Testament, its themes echo strongly: • “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh” (1 Peter 2:11). These passages transfer the exile concept from geography to eschatology: believers dwell in the world as resident aliens, anticipating a better homeland. Practical Ministry Insights 1. Discipleship and identity Teaching on spiritual exile helps believers resist cultural assimilation while engaging society for its good (Jeremiah 29:7; Philippians 3:20). 2. Pastoral care for the displaced Refugees, immigrants, and marginalized people find biblical precedent for their experience. The church can minister with empathy drawn from Israel’s story. 3. Worship and holiness Like post-exilic Israel rebuilding the temple, modern congregations are called to renewed purity and covenant faithfulness after seasons of personal or corporate discipline (Ezra 6:19–22; 2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1). 4. Mission outlook The notion of living as “resident aliens” guards against triumphalism and fuels pilgrim hope, motivating evangelism in a world that is not yet home (Hebrews 13:14). Related Terms • Deportation (Matthew 1:11, “μετοικεσία”) – the historical event. Conclusion Though absent from the New Testament text, the word translated “resident alien/exile” carries a rich salvation-historical weight. From the Babylonian captivity to the present pilgrim church, Scripture weaves the experience of displacement into a testimony of divine faithfulness, calling God’s people to live as holy strangers until the day of final restoration. Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance μελῶν — 2 Occ.μέλος — 5 Occ. Μελχὶ — 2 Occ. Μελχισεδέκ — 8 Occ. ἔμελεν — 2 Occ. μέλει — 7 Occ. μελέτω — 1 Occ. μεμβράνας — 1 Occ. μέμφεται — 1 Occ. μεμφόμενος — 1 Occ. μὲν — 182 Occ. Μενοῦν — 1 Occ. μενοῦνγε — 2 Occ. μέντοι — 8 Occ. ἐμείναμεν — 2 Occ. ἔμειναν — 2 Occ. ἔμεινεν — 10 Occ. ἔμενεν — 3 Occ. ἔμενον — 1 Occ. μεῖναι — 6 Occ. |
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