Bible Encyclopedias
Alien

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

āl´yen : Found in the King James Version for גּר , gēr , (Exodus 18:3 ) = "guest," hence: "foreigner," "sojourner" the Revised Version (British and American); also for נכר , nēkhār (Isaiah 61:5 ) = "foreign," "a foreigner" the Revised Version (British and American) (concrete), "heathendom" (abstract), "alien," "strange" (-er), and for נכרי , nokhrı̄ (Deuteronomy 14:21 the Revised Version (British and American) "foreigner"; compare Job 19:15; Psalm 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.