Gentiles, Nations, Other races, or Ethnics?
When most of us see or hear the word ‘gentile,’ we think of anyone who isn’t a Jew. The Greek word used for it is εθνος (ethnos), which is where we get our word ‘ethnic’; it’s often translated as ‘nations’ or ‘gentiles’.
But did you know it originally had a much more specific meaning?
In Genesis, the term seems to pinpoint a particular family line. After listing the descendants of Japheth, the Bible says of them:
‘[They settled the] islands, which lands were divided by tribe and nation among the gentiles, each according to his own language.’ (Genesis 10:5)
You see, the ‘gentiles’ first referred specifically to the descendants of Japheth — many of whom settled in Europe and the Mediterranean islands. They were distinct from the families of Shem and Ham, who mostly lived in the Middle East and Africa.
This idea is reinforced in Genesis chapter 14. During a conflict where Abraham rescued his nephew Lot, one of the opposing kings was ‘Thargal, the king of gentiles’ (Genesis 14:1). The text singles him out from the other non-Israelite kings, suggesting he came from this distinct group.
Over time, however, the word took on a broader, symbolic meaning. Since the original ‘gentiles’ were peoples outside of God’s covenant with Israel, the term came to represent anyone who wasn’t in such a relationship with Him.
So, the term evolved from a specific family line to a powerful symbol for the entire non-covenant world. That’s why we often translate it as ‘other races’, and only sometimes as ‘nations’, because it’s literal meaning is those of another ethnicity.