āl ́yen: Found in the King James Version for גּר, gēr, (Exodus 18:3) = “guest,” hence: “foreigner,” “sojourner” the Revised Version; also for נכר, nēkhār (Isaiah 61:5) = “foreign,” “a foreigner” the Revised Version (concrete), “heathendom” (abstract), “alien,” “strange” (-er), and for נכרי, nokhrī (Deuteronomy 14:21 the Revised Version “foreigner”; compare Job 19:15; Psalms 69:8; Lamentations 5:2)—“strange,” in a variety of degrees and meanings: “foreign,” “non-relative,” “adulterous,” “different,” “wonderful,” “alien,” “outlandish,” “strange.” In the New Testament we find ἀπηλλοτριωμένος, apēllotriōménos (Ephesians 4:18; Colossians 1:21) = “being alienated,” and allótrios (Hebrews 11:34) = “another’s,” “not one’s own,” hence: “foreign,” “not akin,” “hostile.” In the Old Testament the expression was taken in its literal sense, referring to those who were not Israelites—the heathen; in the New Testament it is given a figurative meaning, as indicating those who have not become naturalized in the kingdom of God, hence are outside of Christ and the blessing of the gospel.
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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Alien, foreigner, guest, stranger
Bible reference(s): Colossians 1:21, Deuteronomy 14:21, Ephesians 4:18, Exodus 18:3, Hebrews 11:34, Isaiah 61:5, Job 19:15, Lamentations 5:2, Psalms 69:8
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.