Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dustin Curlee <owner AT sold2close.com>]

Mr. Levin,

I greatly appreciate your response. Someone else actually sent me the link and I have already registered.

Have a blessed night!

Dustin...

On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 7:34 PM, Yigal Levin <Yigal.Levin AT biu.ac.il> wrote:

Dear Dustin,

 

First of all, the answer is no. A "ger" is a "sojourner" or "temporary resident" or "resident alien" dependant on the context. "Nokhri" simply means "foreigner". "Goy" is "nation"; "Goyim" are "nations". And while "ger" and "nokhri" can apply to an Israelite who is living among non-Israelites, in the Bible they usually apply to non-Israelites living among Israelites. "Goy" can refer either to the nation of Israel or to another nation. The later Jewish use of "goyim" as "gentiles" (that is, non-Jews as individuals) only developed after the biblical period. The interpretations that you cite below are incorrect.

 

Having said all that, I assume that you don't know that this mailing list is closed, and that b-Hebrew has moved to a web-based format at http://biblicalhumanities.org/bhebrew. Please go there and sign up.

 

Blessings,

 

Yigal Levin

 

From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Dustin Curlee
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2013 3:16 AM
To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [b-hebrew] "Foreigners"

 

I am having a discussion with someone with regards to the words "ger," "nokhri," and "goyim." He states that these words apply to a native born Israelite who had left the land, dwelt in a foreign land, and who had returned, thus making them a "foreigner," "sojourner," or "stranger," respectively.

The impact of this being true would mean that in each instance within the Torah, Wisdom literature, and Prophets (minor and major), the use of this word would strictly applies to an Israelite rather than anyone who was a non-Israelite; thus, the Greek counterpart within the New Testament is also referring to an Israelite.

My question is, is this an accurate translation of "ger," "nokhri," and "goyin?"

Thank you,

Dustin Curlee

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Dustin Curlee
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