Nation

Nation This word in the Auth. Ver. generally represents the Heb. גּוֹי, i.e., the nation as a body politic; in plur. גּוֹיַם, esp. of foreign nations, the GENTILES SEE GENTILES (q.v.); usually in the Sept. ἔθνος, ἔθνη, Vulg. gens, gentes. Sometimes it represents the Heb. עָם, which means esp. the PEOPLE SEE PEOPLE (q.v.), Sept. λαός; in poetry, לאֻמַּים לאֹם; and in Chald. אֻמָּה. It means sometimes all the inhabitants of a particular country (De 4:34), the country or kingdom itself (Ex 34:10; Re 7:9); sometimes countrymen, natives of the same stock (Ac 26:4); sometimes the father, head, or original of a people (Ge 25:23). In the prophets the term "nations" is often used as a general name for the heathen or Gentiles (Isa 9:2; comp. Mt 4:15). SEE ETHNOLOGY.

⇒Bible concordance for NATION.

⇒Definition of nation

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.