"national; in NT Gentile, heathen, not Israelites, Mt. 5:47; 6:7; 18:17; 3 Jn. 7*"
Definition and meaning
national; in NT Gentile, heathen, not Israelites, Mt. 5:47; 6:7; 18:17; 3 Jn. 7*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐθνικός
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of ethnikos (G1482) across the King James Bible.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
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Common questions
Strong's G1482 (ethnikos) is a Greek word that means: national; in NT Gentile, heathen, not Israelites, Mt. 5:47; 6:7; 18:17; 3 Jn. 7* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word ethnikos (G1482) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1482 is ethnikos, a Greek word defined as: national; in NT Gentile, heathen, not Israelites, Mt. 5:47; 6:7; 18:17; 3 Jn. 7*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ethnikos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.