who and or what are the gentiles?

[Eddy Fire]

O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 117 (KJV)

who
or what
and why
are the Gentiles?
the word used in the above Psalm 117 for nations is also used for Gentiles

is there more to who or what the Gentiles are than commonly looked at and/or agreed as far as what we 'do' with the concept of Gentiles in our minds when we either read or discuss anything that refers to Gentiles?

Is there more to 'Gentiles' than we generally perhaps limit our understanding with?

put a different way
if
for example
if someone says something that is recognized by the general public or perhaps only a select few of that country or age/era
then the hearer
on recognizing what it means
will also understand that it meant
whereas a person who doesn't know the culture or trend or sayings of the people
will not really understand
and may even
misinterpret what is/was said
or
just take no notice at all of the relevance of what is being said

still with me?

in scripture
we see this quite a lot
yet we also can be oblivious to something having implications or a specific lesson or message

it is also common throughout the world even today in this age
where people from one country will miss things said
and certainly is can be so
for even much smaller groups or cliques
but
all this is said to help the original question

who or what are the Gentiles and is there more significance to the reference to them that we generally are aware of?

it is my intent here that this can be civil
and not repetitious
not argumentative
or challenging
not some trying to prove their ideas
but
an honest
serious
and proper
edifying Bible Study
the sort that some may attend with their church or home fellowship
for common bodily good

is it possible that the Gentiles are something more than just non-Jews
or just nations
or as someone said on another thread some time ago
seed of one of Noah's boys

there is some indication that something to do with the dividing of the house of Israel is where the Gentiles appeared
does anyone know anything about this?
if this is the case
does it unfold a different or deeper or better understanding than may be the common thought?

happy studying
and to the building up of each other
to the Glory of God

Praise Jehovah, all ye nations, Glorify Him, all ye peoples.

For mighty to us hath been His kindness, And the truth of Jehovah is to the age. Praise ye Jah!
Psalm 117 (YLT)

 

[amadeus2]

This could be a can of worms or it could be very simple as God wills and directs. In the example you gave (Psalm 117) the KJV says "nations", and my Luther (German Bible) shows "Heiden", which is the German word meaning "heathen" or "pagan".

Strong's shows the same original Hebrew word is translated in the KJV 374 times as "nation", 143 times as "heathen", 30 times as "gentile", and 11 times as "people".

Naturally the Gentiles are any peoples who are not Israelites or Hebrews. Spiritually, it may another matter depending on how you understand what Paul is saying here:

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:" Rom 9:6

 

[spirit1st]

Yes anyone who not a jew outwardly is a gentile! but At salvation we are grafted in as Jews ! of the tribe of Judah! The new Priest tribe !


Heb_7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Rev_5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Heb_7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Joh_4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

[Eddy Fire]

OK
yes
shall we look again?
are the Samaritans
the Greeks
the Barbarians
the Egyptians
the Heathen
etc
all Gentiles?

if so
does this run true with the Scripture at all times
and
if not?
If we can refrain from the matter about the end of those who believe
as this is quite established
and the different words translated like
nations
Gentiles
etc
and focus on who or what the Gentiles are in Scripture and where did they originate or come into being
and what did the hearers of the time understand the reference to Gentiles to mean?
if it is only meant to mean nations, for example
can we read all reference to Gentiles as nations and still see the same way in what we read?
or is the reference
at least sometimes
to a particular people
besides non-Jews?

who or what are the Gentiles?
what is their origin
if any?

 

[Hekuran]

Hi,
Do you have a reason to be dissatisfied with the straightforward answer - Gentiles are all those who are not Jews? If so, please share it, and we can take a look at it together. Otherwise, I'm not sure what you are asking us to look in to...

 

[B-A-C]

Hi,
Do you have a reason to be dissatisfied with the straightforward answer - Gentiles are all those who are not Jews? If so, please share it, and we can take a look at it together. Otherwise, I'm not sure what you are asking us to look in to...

The Samaritans also were not generally classified as Gentiles.

Matt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;

 

[B-A-C]

The Gentiles remain Gentiles even after they are saved. There is a difference between the spiritual and the natural.

Acts 15:3 Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.

They are still Gentiles after the conversion.

Acts 15:17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,'

Acts 17:17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.

Acts 21:25 "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."

Rom 11:11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

 

[Eddy Fire]

from Hekuran

Hi,
Do you have a reason to be dissatisfied with the straightforward answer

never dissatisfied with a straightforward answer
B-A-C answered with an example of what we can look at in this study

while we have a few answers that are generally quoted
and accepted
and have the ring of "everyone knows that"
the purpose of this study is to look (study) to see when and how the word rendered 'Gentiles" is used
and
if there is a cultural understanding of the time
that we may have overlooked
and therefore
as with a lot of Scripture
we can miss the wonderful tapestry in it's fulness
as most of us have
from time to time
become aware of something we never knew
and our response is more awe and wonder and excitement in being partakers of the Gospel

it is not that we are less saved
or more
but merely a study to see if there is more to something than meets the eye

for example
a Scripture that fits here is
Genesis 48:19
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. (This is Israel (Jacob) talking to Joseph about Josephs sons)
where the "shall become a multitude of nations" is also able to be rendered
the fullness of the Gentiles
where nations and Gentiles are interchangeable
as is shall become a multitude and the fullness

and if we look in the New Testament
we see
in Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

which is interesting as if you read the section in Genesis before the verse above from Genesis
we see that in Genesis 48:10
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

so again the question is
who and or what are the Gentiles
etc