Jump to: Smith's • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia The term "heathen" is used in the Bible to refer to nations or individuals who do not worship the God of Israel and are outside the covenant community of Israel. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "heathen" is "goyim," which generally means "nations" or "Gentiles." In the New Testament, the Greek equivalent is "ethnos," also meaning "nations" or "Gentiles."Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, the Israelites were often warned against adopting the practices and idolatry of the heathen nations surrounding them. The heathen were typically characterized by their worship of false gods and idols, which was strictly forbidden for the people of Israel. For example, in Leviticus 18:24-25 , God warns the Israelites: "Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants." The Israelites were called to be a distinct and holy people, set apart from the heathen nations. This separation was not only religious but also cultural and social, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:1-6 , where God commands Israel to destroy the nations in the Promised Land and not to intermarry with them, lest they turn the Israelites away from following Him. New Testament Context In the New Testament, the term "heathen" continues to refer to those outside the Jewish faith, but the focus shifts with the advent of the Gospel. The message of Jesus Christ is extended to all nations, including the heathen, fulfilling the promise to Abraham that "all nations on earth will be blessed" through his offspring (Genesis 22:18). The Apostle Paul, in particular, was known as the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13). He emphasized that the Gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). In Acts 13:47 , Paul and Barnabas declare, "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Heathen Practices and Idolatry Throughout the Bible, heathen practices are often associated with idolatry, immorality, and various forms of pagan worship. The prophets frequently condemned these practices and called Israel to repentance. For instance, Jeremiah 10:2-3 warns, "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless." The New Testament also warns believers to avoid the practices of the heathen. In 1 Peter 4:3 , Peter writes, "For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry." Evangelism and the Heathen The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 , commands believers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." This mandate underscores the Christian responsibility to evangelize the heathen, bringing them into the fold of God's people through the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. The early church grappled with the inclusion of Gentiles, as seen in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), where it was affirmed that Gentile converts did not need to adhere to all the ceremonial laws of Judaism. This decision was pivotal in the spread of Christianity among the heathen nations, emphasizing faith in Christ as the basis for inclusion in the people of God. Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews plural goyum). At first the word goyim denoted generally all the nations of the world (Genesis 18:18; Comp. Galatians 3:8). The Jews afterwards became a people distinguished in a Marked manner from the other goyim. They were a separate people (Leviticus 20:23; 26:14-45; Deuteronomy 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 (Joshua 23:7; 1 Kings 11:2). The practice of idolatry was the characteristic of these nations, and hence the word came to designate idolaters (Psalm 106:47; Jeremiah 46:28; Lamentations 1:3; Isaiah 36:18), the wicked (Psalm 9:5, 15, 17).The corresponding Greek word in the New Testament, ethne, has similar shades of meaning. In Acts 22:21, Galatians 3:14, it denotes the people of the earth generally; and in Matthew 6:7, an idolater. In modern usage the word denotes all nations that are strangers to revealed religion. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) Plural of Heathen.2. (n.) An individual of the pagan or unbelieving nations, or those which worship idols and do not acknowledge the true God; a pagan; an idolater. 3. (n.) An irreligious person. 4. (a.) Gentile; pagan; as, a heathen author. 5. (a.) Barbarous; unenlightened; heathenish. 6. (a.) Irreligious; scoffing. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia HEATHENhe'-th'-n, he'-then. Greek 1482. ethnikos -- national, foreign, ie spec. a Gentile ... a Gentile. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ethnikos Phonetic Spelling: (eth-nee-kos') Short Definition: pagan, heathen, gentile; a Gentile, non-Jew ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1482.htm - 7k 1484. ethnos -- a race, a nation, pl. the nations (as distinct ... 2855. kollubistes -- a moneychanger 1140. daimonion -- an evil spirit, a demon 1056. Galilaia -- Galilee, the northern region of Palestine, also ... 94. adikos -- unjust, unrighteous 1497. eidolon -- an image (ie for worship), by impl. a false god 571. apistos -- incredible, unbelieving Strong's Hebrew 3594. Kiyyun -- a heathen god... 3593, 3594. Kiyyun. 3595 . a heathen god. Transliteration: Kiyyun Phonetic Spelling: (kee-yoon') Short Definition: Kiyyun. Word ... /hebrew/3594.htm - 6k 4432. Molek -- a heathen god to whom Isr. sacrificed children 1910. Hadadrimmon -- probably a heathen god 5370. Nergal -- a heathen god 4507. Meni -- "award," a heathen god 1168a. Baal -- a heathen god 1168. Ba'al -- a heathen god 1471. goy -- nation, people 7728. shobeb -- turning back, apostate 4464. mamzer -- a bastard, child of incest Library The Seven Books of Arnobius Against the Heathen Exhortation to the Heathen The Cry of the Heathen In the Lands of the Heathen "The Heritage of the Heathen" The Church and the Heathen The Longing of the Heathen for a Saviour. --The Star of the Wise ... The Heathen Writers against Christianity. Hope for the Heathen Heathen Plots Thesaurus Jonah (30 Occurrences)... It is chiefly interesting from the two-fold character in which he appears, (1) as a missionary to heathen Nineveh, and (2) as a type of the "Son of man.". ... /j/jonah.htm - 35k Demonology Demoniac (7 Occurrences) Demon (26 Occurrences) Idolatry (14 Occurrences) Abomination (78 Occurrences) Pollute (42 Occurrences) Devils (48 Occurrences) Demons (54 Occurrences) Sadducees (14 Occurrences) Resources What is a heathen? | GotQuestions.orgWho was William Carey? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to use vain repetitions in prayer? | GotQuestions.org Heathen: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Heathen (145 Occurrences)Matthew 6:7 Matthew 18:17 Acts 4:25 1 Corinthians 12:2 2 Corinthians 11:26 Galatians 1:16 Galatians 2:9 Galatians 3:8 1 Thessalonians 4:5 3 John 1:7 Leviticus 25:44 Leviticus 26:33 Leviticus 26:38 Leviticus 26:45 Deuteronomy 4:27 2 Samuel 22:44 2 Samuel 22:50 2 Kings 16:3 2 Kings 17:8 2 Kings 17:11 2 Kings 17:15 2 Kings 21:2 1 Chronicles 16:24 1 Chronicles 16:35 2 Chronicles 20:6 2 Chronicles 28:3 2 Chronicles 33:2 2 Chronicles 33:9 2 Chronicles 36:14 Ezra 6:21 Nehemiah 5:8 Nehemiah 5:9 Nehemiah 5:17 Nehemiah 6:6 Nehemiah 6:16 Psalms 2:1 Psalms 2:8 Psalms 9:5 Psalms 9:15 Psalms 9:19 Psalms 10:16 Psalms 18:43 Psalms 18:49 Psalms 33:10 Psalms 44:2 Psalms 44:11 Psalms 44:14 Psalms 46:6 Psalms 46:10 Psalms 47:8 Psalms 59:5 Psalms 59:8 Psalms 78:55 Psalms 79:1 Psalms 79:6 Psalms 79:10 Psalms 80:8 Psalms 94:10 Psalms 96:3 Psalms 96:10 Psalms 98:2 Psalms 102:15 Psalms 105:44 Psalms 106:35 Psalms 106:41 Psalms 106:47 Psalms 110:6 Psalms 111:6 Psalms 115:2 Psalms 126:2 Psalms 135:15 Psalms 149:7 Isaiah 16:8 Jeremiah 9:16 Jeremiah 10:2 Jeremiah 10:25 Jeremiah 18:13 Jeremiah 49:14 Jeremiah 49:15 Lamentations 1:3 Lamentations 1:10 Lamentations 4:15 Lamentations 4:20 Ezekiel 7:24 Ezekiel 11:12 Ezekiel 11:16 Ezekiel 12:16 Ezekiel 16:14 Ezekiel 20:9 Ezekiel 20:14 Ezekiel 20:22 Ezekiel 20:23 Ezekiel 20:32 Ezekiel 20:41 Ezekiel 22:4 Ezekiel 22:15 Ezekiel 22:16 Ezekiel 23:30 Ezekiel 25:7 Ezekiel 25:8 Subtopics Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Abimelech Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Balaam Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Belshazzar Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Cornelius Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Cyrus Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Nebuchadnezzar Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to Pharaoh Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to The Centurion at Capernaum Heathen: Divine Revelations Given to The Magi (Wise Men from the East) Heathen: Excluded from the Temple Heathen: Nebuchadnezzar, After his Restoration Heathen: The Centurion at Caesarea Heathen: The Centurion at Capernaum Heathen: The Magi (The Wise Men from the East) Heathen: Their Land Given to Israel The Heathen are Without God and Christ The Heathen: Baptism to be Administered To The Heathen: Cautions Against Imitating The Heathen: Conversion of, Acceptable to God The Heathen: Danger of Intercourse With The Heathen: Employed to Chastise the Church The Heathen: Evil of Imitating The Heathen: God: Brings to Nought the Counsels of The Heathen: God: Will be Exalted Among The Heathen: God: Will Finally Judge The Heathen: Have: Evidence of the Goodness of God The Heathen: Have: Evidence of the Power of God The Heathen: Have: The Testimony of Conscience The Heathen: Necessity for Preaching To The Heathen: Praise God for Success of the Gospel Among The Heathen: Salvation of, Foretold The Heathen: Salvation Provided For The Heathen: Scoffing at Saints The Heathen: Strangers to the Covenant of Promise The Heathen: The Church Shall be Avenged of The Heathen: The Glory of God to be Declared Among The Heathen: The Gospel Received By The Heathen: The Gospel to be Preached To The Heathen: The Holy Spirit Poured out Upon The Heathen: Worshippers of the Devil Related Terms Drink-offering (33 Occurrences) |