גּוֹי
a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
Definition
The Hebrew word גּוֹי (gôwy) primarily refers to a nation or people group, often specifically non-Israelite nations (e.g., Genesis 10:5, 32). It is the standard term for 'Gentiles' or foreign peoples, as seen in God's promise to Abraham that 'in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed' (Genesis 12:3). In a few poetic contexts, it can describe a swarm or troop of animals, such as a flight of locusts (Joel 1:6). The word carries a neutral sense of a collective ethnic or political entity, distinct from Israel, God's chosen nation.
Biblical Usage
גּוֹי appears over 500 times, used throughout the Old Testament. It commonly denotes the nations surrounding Israel, especially in prophetic books (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah) where God's judgment or future inclusion of the nations is proclaimed. In the Torah, it describes the genealogical divisions of humanity (Genesis 10) and the nations from which Israel will be separated (Leviticus 20:23). The plural (גּוֹיִם, goyim) is frequent, often translated as 'the nations' or 'the Gentiles.'
Etymology
Derived from the root גוה (gwh), suggesting the idea of a body or mass, hence a collective group. It is related to גֵּוָה (gevah, H1465), meaning 'back' or 'body,' conveying the notion of a corporeal, gathered people. The shortened form גֹּי (goy) appears rarely. The semantic development moved from a general 'nation' to specifically non-Israelite nations in biblical usage.
Semantic Range
גּוֹי is theologically significant for understanding Israel's unique covenant identity and God's universal plan. It highlights the distinction between Israel and the nations, yet also points to God's purpose to bless all peoples (Genesis 12:3). Prophetic texts envision the nations coming to worship Yahweh (Isaiah 2:2-4), fulfilled in the New Testament inclusion of Gentiles into God's people. Grasping this term enriches reading by clarifying the biblical narrative of election and redemption for all humanity.
In the ancient Near East, identity was deeply tribal and ethnic. A גּוֹי was not just a political state but a people bound by lineage, language, and gods. Israel's self-understanding as a 'holy nation' (Exodus 19:6) set it apart from other גּוֹיִם, which were often viewed as idolatrous. This contrasts with modern, more secular concepts of nationality.
עַם (am, H5971) — a people, often with a closer relational bond (e.g., Israel as God's people); לְאֹם (le'om, H3816) — a people or nation, used poetically and for ethnic groups; אֻמָּה (ummah, H523) — a community or people, similar to לְאֹם.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →