"strange, foreign, alien, Eph. 2:12, 19; strange, unexpected, surprising, 1 Pet. 4:12; novel, Heb. 13:9; subst. a stranger, Mt. 25:35, et al.; a host, Rom. 16:23"
Definition and meaning
strange, foreign, alien, Eph. 2:12, 19; strange, unexpected, surprising, 1 Pet. 4:12; novel, Heb. 13:9; subst. a stranger, Mt. 25:35, et al.; a host, Rom. 16:23
In the original Greek the word is written: χένος
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 xenos (G3581) across the King James Bible.
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
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Common questions
Strong's G3581 (xenos) is a Greek word that means: strange, foreign, alien, Eph. 2:12, 19; strange, unexpected, surprising, 1 Pet. 4:12; novel, Heb. 13:9; subst. a stranger, Mt. 25:35, et al.; a host, Rom. 16:23 It appears 14 times in the King James Bible.
The word xenos (G3581) appears 14 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3581 is xenos, a Greek word defined as: strange, foreign, alien, Eph. 2:12, 19; strange, unexpected, surprising, 1 Pet. 4:12; novel, Heb. 13:9; subst. a stranger, Mt. 25:35, et al.; a host, . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
xenos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.