Gentile, heathen, nation, people

“Gentiles” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(nations). In O. T. sense, all peoples not Jewish (Gen. 10:55By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. (Genesis 10:5); 14:1; Neh. 5:88And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. (Nehemiah 5:8)). In N. T., Greeks and Romans seem to type Gentiles (Luke 2:3232A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:32); Acts 26:17-2017Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. (Acts 26:17‑20); Rom. 1:14-16; 9:2414I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:14‑16)
24Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Romans 9:24)). “Isles of the Gentiles” (Gen. 10:55By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. (Genesis 10:5)), supposed to embrace Asia Minor and Europe.

“Gentiles” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

A name commonly used in scripture to denote any and every nation except Israel. At times, when Israel as a people is referred to, the same words are used for them. Thus
1. goi, ἔθνος, is translated “nation,” and refers to the Jewish nation (Deut. 26:55And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: (Deuteronomy 26:5); Luke 7:55For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. (Luke 7:5); John 11:4848If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. (John 11:48)). In the plural the same words refer to the nations generally in distinction from Israel, and are translated “nations,” “Gentiles,” and “heathen” (Deut. 18:99When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. (Deuteronomy 18:9); Deut. 32:4343Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people. (Deuteronomy 32:43); Isa. 60:33And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (Isaiah 60:3); Isa. 62:22And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. (Isaiah 62:2); Joel 2:1919Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: (Joel 2:19); Acts 11:1,181And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. (Acts 11:1)
18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (Acts 11:18); Acts 13:1919And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. (Acts 13:19); Acts 28:2828Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:28); etc).
God had raised a wall between the Jews and the Gentiles, which in Christ’s death was broken down for believers, “to make in himself of twain one new man” (Eph. 2:1414For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:14)). “There is neither Jew nor Greek.... for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:2828There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)). This does not touch unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, who are kept separate in God’s present and future dealings.

“Heathen” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

The Hebrew word goi is also translated “Gentiles,” and “people,” and very often “nations:” it is used in contrast to Israel irrespective of those designated being civilized or not. All the nations were idolaters, but this is not implied in the word goi, nor in the ἔθνος of the New Testament, which is more frequently translated “nations” and “Gentiles.” In Matthew 17 ἐθνικός has a peculiar application: if an offending brother will not hear the church, the injunction is “let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican,” that is, as an outsider, the heathen being outside the privileges of Israel, as one to be avoided (compare Rom. 16:1717Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17); 2 Thess. 3:6,146Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. (2 Thessalonians 3:14)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:
1484 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)
Greek:
ἔθνος
Transliteration:
ethnos
Phonic:
eth’-nos
Meaning:
probably from 1486; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)
KJV Usage:
Gentile, heathen, nation, people