Lexical Summary nokri: foreign, foreigner, foreigners Original Word: נָכְרִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance alien, foreigner, outlandish, stranger, woman From neker (second form); strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful) -- alien, foreigner, outlandish, strange(-r, woman). see HEBREW neker NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as neker Definition foreign, alien NASB Translation adulteress (2), adulterous woman (2), alien (2), aliens (1), extraordinary (1), foreign (16), foreigner (15), foreigners (5), stranger (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נָכְרִי adjective foreign, alien (Late Hebrew נָכְרִי = Gentile); — ׳נ absolute masculine Zephaniah 1:8 +; feminine נָכְרִיָּה Exodus 2:22 +; masculine plural נָכְרִים Isaiah 2:6 2t. + Proverbs 20:16 Kt (> Qr נָכְרִיָּה), + Proverbs 27:13 (so read for ᵑ0 נָכְרִיָּה); feminine plural נָכְרִיּוֺת Genesis 31:15 +; — 1. a. foreign: עַם נָכְרִי Exodus 21:8 (E) a foreign (non-Israel) people, ׳אִישׁ נ Deuteronomy 17:15 ("" לֹא אָתִיךָ); ׳מַלְבּוּשׁ נ Zephaniah 1:8; אֶרֶץ נָכְרִיָּה Exodus 2:22 (J) foreign land, so Exodus 18:3 (E); especially נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֺת foreign (non-Israel) women 1 Kings 11:18; Ezra 10:2,10,11,14,17,18,44; Nehemiah 13:26,27. b. as substantive נָכְרִי foreigner (non-Israel) Judges 19:12 (+ אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), 1 Kings 8:41 (+ אֲשֶׁר לֹא מֵעַמְּךָ), = 2 Chronicles 6:32 (+ id.), 1 Kings 8:43 2Chronicles 6:33; Deuteronomy 14:21 ("" גֵּר), Deuteronomy 15:3; Deuteronomy 23:21 (opposed to אָחִיךָ), Deuteronomy 29:21 (+ אֲשֶׁר יָבאֹ מֵאֶרֶץ רְחוֺקָה); as predicate, 2 Samuel 15:19 ("" גֹּלֶה), נָכְרִיָּה Ruth 2:10; plural נָכְרִים foreigners Lamentations 5:2 (זָרִים), Obadiah 11 ("" id.); compare יַלְדֵי נָכְרִים Isaiah 2:6; feminine plural alien women Genesis 31:15 (E; i.e. not of one's father's family). 2 נָכְרִיָּה foreign woman, as technical term, in Proverbs, for harlot (perhaps because harlots were originally chiefly foreigners): Proverbs 2:16 ("" אִשָּׁה זָרָה), Proverbs 7:5 ("" id.), Proverbs 5:20 ("" זָרָה), Proverbs 6:24 ("" אֵשֶׁת רָ֑ע), Proverbs 23:27 ("" זוֺנָה). — On Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 27:13 see below 3 figurative unknown, unfamiliar: נָכְרִי הָיִיתִי בְּעֵינֵיהֶם Job 19:15 an alien am I become in their eyes; לִבְנֵי אִמִּי ׳נ Psalm 69:9 ("" מוּזָר הָיִיתִי לְאֶחָ֑י); ׳אִישׁ נ Ecclesiastes 6:2; of ׳יs judgment, נָכְרִיָּה עֲבֹדָתוֺ Isaiah 28:21 strange is his task! ("" זָר מַעֲשֵׂהוּ); גֶּפֶן נָכְרִיָּה Jeremiah 2:21 an alien vine (opposed to זֶרַע אֱמֶת), figurative of degenerate Israel; as substantive, נָכְרִים Proverbs 20:16 Kt (> Qr נָכְרִיָּה), alens, persons unknown to him ("" זָר), so read also (for ᵑ0 נָכְרִיָּה) "" Proverbs 27:13. Topical Lexicon Overview of Biblical Usage The term designates persons, practices, or objects that are outside Israel’s covenant community. It appears in narrative, legal, poetic, wisdom, and prophetic literature—about forty-six times—highlighting both the distinction and the interaction between Israel and the nations. Covenant Identity and Social Boundaries From the patriarchal era onward, the word underscores Israel’s separateness. Rachel and Leah lament, “Are we not regarded by him as foreigners?” (Genesis 31:15). Moses’ law reinforces the boundary: “You shall surely set over yourselves a king whom the LORD your God chooses…you may not set a foreigner over you” (Deuteronomy 17:15). Such texts guard the uniqueness of the covenant people and their calling to reflect the holiness of Yahweh. Foreign Influence and the Call to Holiness Warnings abound concerning cultural and spiritual corruption. Nehemiah’s reforms record that “they separated all the foreigners from Israel” (Nehemiah 9:2), a response to syncretism that had crept in through intermarriage and commerce. At a personal level, Job’s misery is intensified because even “aliens” (Job 19:15) avoid him, illustrating social distance when covenant fellowship is broken. Compassionate Provision for the Foreign Resident Israel’s holiness never permitted inhospitality. “You shall not pervert justice due to the foreigner” (Deuteronomy 24:17). Solomon prays, “When a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, comes…then hear from heaven” (1 Kings 8:41-43). The same law that distinguishes also protects, anticipating the gospel welcome extended to all nations. Civil and Economic Distinctions Distinct economic rules existed. “You may collect payment from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you” (Deuteronomy 15:3). Interest could be charged to the outsider (Deuteronomy 23:20). These provisions upheld Israel’s internal solidarity while regulating international trade without exploitation. Marriage, Sexual Ethics, and the ‘Strange Woman’ Wisdom literature appropriates the word to describe the seductive outsider whose waywardness mirrors idolatry: “For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey” (Proverbs 5:3); “Do not desire her beauty in your heart” (Proverbs 6:24-25). The motif culminates in Solomon’s downfall: “His wives turned his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4), a narrative warning against both literal and spiritual adultery. Foreign Gods and Spiritual Adultery Idolatry is frequently labeled “foreign.” Gideon’s men are told, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you” (Joshua 24:23). Hosea’s portrayal of Israel chasing outsiders parallels the wisdom texts, presenting apostasy as covenant infidelity. Prayer and Inclusion at the Temple Solomon’s intercession in 1 Kings 8 anticipates Gentile pilgrimage: “so that all peoples of the earth may know Your name.” Though outsiders, they are invited to seek mercy at the place God chose for His Name, prefiguring the New Testament vision where “my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7). Prophetic and Psalmic Reflections The Psalms recall Israel’s vulnerability: “When they were few in number, very few, and foreigners in the land” (Psalm 105:12). Psalm 137:4 laments exile in “a foreign land,” highlighting the cost of covenant unfaithfulness and the hope of restoration. Conversely, Isaiah foresees foreigners joining themselves to the LORD (Isaiah 56:3-8), merging themes of separation and inclusion. Eschatological Anticipation of Gentile Inclusion While the Law distinguishes, the prophets proclaim an ingathering. Zechariah envisions many nations seeking the LORD in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:22-23). The overarching trajectory moves from guarded boundaries to worldwide blessing promised to Abraham, fulfilled in Messiah. Ministry Applications 1. Guarding purity: The church maintains doctrinal and moral distinctness, heeding the Old Testament pattern. Thus the term richly portrays both the danger and the destiny of the outsider—inviting God’s people to holiness, compassion, and global proclamation of His steadfast love. Forms and Transliterations הַנָּכְרִ֑י הַנָּכְרִ֔י הַנָּכְרִ֖י הַנָּכְרִ֗י הַנָּכְרִיּ֑וֹת הַנָּכְרִיּֽוֹת׃ הנכרי הנכריות הנכריות׃ וְ֝נָכְרִ֗י וְהַ֨נָּכְרִ֔י וְנָכְרִ֞ים והנכרי ונכרי ונכרים לְנָכְרִ֔י לְנָכְרִֽים׃ לַנָּכְרִ֣י לנכרי לנכרים׃ מִ֝נָּכְרִיָּ֗ה מנכריה נָ֝כְרִ֗י נָכְר֔וֹ נָכְרִ֔י נָכְרִ֖י נָכְרִ֖ים נָכְרִ֛י נָכְרִ֣י נָכְרִֽי׃ נָכְרִיָּ֖ה נָכְרִיָּ֣ה נָכְרִיָּֽה׃ נָכְרִיּ֑וֹת נָכְרִיּ֖וֹת נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת נָכְרִיָּ֣ה נָכְרִיּֽוֹת׃ נָכְרִיּוֹת֙ נכרו נכרי נכרי׃ נכריה נכריה׃ נכריות נכריות׃ נכרים han·nā·ḵə·rî han·nā·ḵə·rî·yō·wṯ hannacheRi hannacheriYot hannāḵərî hannāḵərîyōwṯ lan·nā·ḵə·rî lannacheRi lannāḵərî lə·nā·ḵə·rî lə·nā·ḵə·rîm lenacheRi lenacheRim lənāḵərî lənāḵərîm min·nā·ḵə·rî·yāh minnacheriYah minnāḵərîyāh nā·ḵə·rî nā·ḵə·rî·yāh nā·ḵə·rî·yō·wṯ nā·ḵə·rîm nā·ḵə·rōw nacheRi nacheRim nacheriYah nacheriYot nacheRo nāḵərî nāḵərîm nāḵərîyāh nāḵərîyōwṯ nāḵərōw veHannacheRi venacheRi venacheRim wə·han·nā·ḵə·rî wə·nā·ḵə·rî wə·nā·ḵə·rîm wəhannāḵərî wənāḵərî wənāḵərîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 31:15 HEB: הֲל֧וֹא נָכְרִיּ֛וֹת נֶחְשַׁ֥בְנוּ ל֖וֹ NAS: Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold KJV: Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold INT: not alien reckoned for Exodus 2:22 Exodus 18:3 Exodus 21:8 Deuteronomy 14:21 Deuteronomy 15:3 Deuteronomy 17:15 Deuteronomy 23:20 Deuteronomy 29:22 Judges 19:12 Ruth 2:10 2 Samuel 15:19 1 Kings 8:41 1 Kings 8:43 1 Kings 11:1 1 Kings 11:8 2 Chronicles 6:32 2 Chronicles 6:33 Ezra 10:2 Ezra 10:10 Ezra 10:11 Ezra 10:14 Ezra 10:17 Ezra 10:18 Ezra 10:44 46 Occurrences |
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