Have you ever thought highly of someone only to find out they are not who they promote themselves to be? We have all experienced that type of reality. Once people find out the individual we all thought was something special is not who they claimed, the individual lashes out, damning and condemning others for noticing the lie. This is applicable to nations as well as individuals. We see the heirs of Jacob today, treating the rest of the world badly because we see that they are not who they claim to be. With tricks and sleight of hand they say that they are Jews but they are not. Over the years the keepers and guardians of the Old Covenant changed and arranged words to suit their religion while covering for their disobedience to Yahweh Elohim. This is where we find ourselves in some disillusionment over the translated word gentile. We see that all Noah’s sons were gentiles, goyim, as well as Abraham. But translators used that word as a disparaging title randomly, for anyone who is not an heir of Jacob. Let’s explore.
Genesis 10:1 G3778 And these G1161 G3588 are the G1078 generations G3588 of the G5207 sons G* of Noah -- G* Shem, G* Ham, G* Japheth. G2532 And G1080 were born G1473 to them G5207 sons G3326 after G3588 the G2627 flood.
2 G5207 The sons G* of Japheth -- G* Gomer, G2532 and G* Magog, G2532 and G* Madai, G2532 and G* Javan, G2532 and G* Tubal, G2532 and G* Meshech, G2532 and G* Tiras.
3 G2532 And G5207 the sons G* of Gomer -- G* Ashkenaz, G2532 and G* Riphath, G2532 and G* Togarmah.
4 G2532 And G5207 the sons G* of Javan -- G* Elisha, G2532 and G* Tarshish, G* Kittim, G* Dodanim.
5 G1537 From out of G3778 these G873 were separated G3520 islands G3588 of the G1484 nations G1722 in G3588 G1093 their land, G1473 G1538 each G2596 according to G1100 tongue, G1722 among G3588 G5443 their tribes, G1473 G2532 and G1722 among G3588 G1484 their nations. G1473
Here we have listed the sons of Japheth. The word nations is “ethnos” in Greek, “goy or goyim” in Hebrew. It means nations, but it is randomly translated “gentile” in English, which is a slur or a putdown towards non-Israelite people. The connotation is gentiles are pagans or heathens. There are problems with this word translated in this manner.
Genesis 10:20 G3778 These are G3588 the G5207 sons G* of Ham G1722 among G3588 G5443 their tribes, G1473 G2596 according to G1100 their languages, G1473 G1722 among G3588 G5561 their regions, G1473 G2532 and G1722 among G3588 G1484 their nations. G1473
The Hamites are ethnos, or goyim.
Genesis 10:31 G3778 These are G5207 the sons G* of Shem G1722 among G3588 G5443 their tribes, G1473 G2596 according to G1100 their languages, G1473 G1722 among G3588 G5561 their regions, G1473 G2532 and G1722 among G3588 G1484 their nations. G1473
32 G3778 These are G3588 the G5443 tribes G5207 of the sons G* of Noah, G2596 according to G1078 their generations, G1473 G2596 according to G1484 their nations. G1473 G575 From G3778 these G1289 were scattered G3520 islands G3588 of the G1484 nations G1909 upon G3588 the G1093 earth G3326 after G3588 the G2627 flood.
The Semites are ethnos, or goyim. Why is the word used for Shem the same as Japheth and Ham’s heirs? Are Shem’s heirs pagans or heathens? If Yahweh wanted the Semites to be “special” he would have used a different word. But clearly the tribes of the sons of Noah are all goyim, nations. If we call one tribe “nations” and other tribes “gentiles” we are differentiating people based on their heritage.
Really what we see with the word ethnos is a random translation of sometimes nations and sometimes gentiles depending of the translators theology. Instead of added religious convictions into scripture, lets just read the words written.
1484 LSJ Gloss:ἔθνος a number of people accustomed to live together, a company, body of men
Dodson:ἔθνος a race, people, the Gentiles a race, people, nation; the nations, heathen world, Gentiles.
Strong’s:ἔθνος a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)
Derivation: probably from G1486;
KJV Usage: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
TBESG:ἔθνος Gentiles
G:N-N
ἔθνος, -ους, τό,
[in LXX chiefly for עַם ,גּוֹי ;]
__1. a multitude, a company, whether of beasts or men (Hom.).
__2. a nation, people:
Refs; in sing., of the Jewish people,
Refs.__3. In pl., as in OT, τὰ ἔ. (like Heb. הַגּוֹיִם), the nations, as distinct from Israel, Gentiles:
Refs; of Gentile Christians,
Refs. SYN.: λαός (see DCG, ii, 229; Cremer, 226). (AS)
Thayer:
1) a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
1a) a company, troop, swarm
2) a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
2a) the human family
3) a tribe, nation, people group
4) in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
5) Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians
ἔθνος
ethnos eth'-nos Probably from G1486; a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan) KJV Usage: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
H1471 גּי גּוי
gôy gôy go'ee, go'-ee
Apparently from the same root as H1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
KJV Usage: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
גּי גּוי
n m
1. nation, people
a. nation, people
1. usually of non-Hebrew people
2. of descendants of Abraham
3. of Israel
b. of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) n pr m
c. Goyim? = "nations"
Origin: apparently from the same root as H1465
TWOT: 326e
Parts of Speech:
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words
1486 LSJ Gloss:ἔθω to be accustomed
Dodson:εἴωθα I am accustomed, custom, what was customary.
ἔθω
ethō eth'-o A primary verb; to be used (by habit or conventionality); neuter perfect participle usage KJV Usage: be custom (manner, wont).
1485 LSJ Gloss:ἔθος custom, habit
Dodson:ἔθος a custom a custom, habit; an institute, rite.
ἔθος
ethos eth'-os From G1486; a usage (prescribed by habit or law) KJV Usage: custom, manner, be wont.
The word ethnos comes from the word ethō and ethōs, which mean “customs, customary, or accustom”. Ethnos is simply a group of people, living near one another taking on similar customs. Yet when we use the word gentile we assume heathen nation. Today that is a misappropriation of the word as any nation can be Messiah believing or Christian and not heathen simply for not having a heritage in Shem. For that matter any nation can convert to Judaism and become a Jew by conversion, which many have. The word Gentile is used in the KJV 141 times, and in each usage it should be translated nation. Just in case it is not clear what is going on here, we see that Abram is going to be a great nation, goy, gentile.
Genesis 12:1 G2532 And G2036 the lord said G2962 G3588 G* to Abram, G1831 Come forth G1537 from out of G3588 G1093 your land, G1473 G2532 and G1537 from G3588 G4772 your kin, G1473 G2532 and G1537 from G3588 the G3624 house G3588 G3962 of your father, G1473 G2532 and G1204 come G1519 into G3588 the G1093 land G3739 which G302 ever G1473 I shall show to you. G1166
2 G2532 And G4160 I will make G1473 you G1519 into G1484 [2nation G3173 1a great], G2532 and G2127 I will bless G1473 you, G2532 and G3170 I will magnify G3588 G3686 your name, G1473 G2532 and G1510.8.2 you will be G2127 a blessing.
3 G2532 And G2127 I will bless G3588 the ones G2127 blessing G1473 you; G2532 and G3588 the ones G2672 cursing G1473 you, G2672 I will curse. G2532 And G1757 [6will be blessed G1722 7by G1473 8you G3956 1all G3588 2the G5443 3tribes G3588 4of the G1093 5earth].
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
This reference to nation is not translated “gentile nation” or “heathen nation” because it is Abram/Abraham. This is the random idea that there doesn’t have to be consistent translations of this word so Abraham is going to be a great gentile tribe. We know the Masoretes would never allow that to be written, nor would today’s Jews. But here it is according to their lack of standards. So is Abraham the only one not called a goy/gentile, while Shem, Ham, and Japheth are goy?
All of this is important to understand because Christianity is not about a lineage of people it is about belief like faithful Abraham, the father of our faith. For todays Jews to call Christians gentiles shows a prideful, self obsessed, and conceited, world view, where anyone not of Jacob is a lower life form. This is untrue. The Messiah came to save all gentiles/goy/nations. While Jesus Messiah came to gather all people to himself, the mindset of the Jew is that a Messiah will come to save them and them alone. After saving them, maybe the Messiah will save a few others, but since they do not believe the Messiah has come for them yet, they believe everyone else on the earth to be heathens. But their holiness is hindered without a temple.
As we noted last week it is hard to say who is who without a genealogy test. However if we want to look at the most cursed people on the planet, it may give us a clue as to who the legitimate sons of Jacob are.
Deuteronomy 28:15 (AMP) But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you:
16 Cursed shall you be in the city and cursed shall you be in the field.
17 Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.
18 Cursed shall be the fruit of your body, of your land, of the increase of your cattle and the young of your sheep.
19 Cursed shall you be when you come in and cursed shall you be when you go out.
Are there people on the earth who fit this description? There certainly are, in every nation in fact. People who are the lowest of the low, living in the city or country, are probably heirs of Jacob. Their food source and supply is cursed and their children are cursed, in every direction. There is no escaping the curse, unless that one becomes a believer in the Messiah and makes him Lord, believing he rose up on the third day.
Deuteronomy 28:20 The Lord shall send you curses, confusion, and rebuke in every enterprise to which you set your hand, until you are destroyed, perishing quickly because of the evil of your doings by which you have forsaken me [Moses and God as one].
This is severe; confusion and mental illness.
Deuteronomy 28:21 The Lord will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land into which you go to possess.
22 The Lord will smite you with consumption, with fever and inflammation, fiery heat, sword and drought, blasting and mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.
23 The heavens over your head shall be brass and the earth under you shall be iron.
24 The Lord shall make the rain of your land powdered soil and dust; from the heavens it shall come down upon you until you are destroyed.
Do the people living in Israel, who reject the Messiah, look like this description? No. They do not. How can that be? Instead they seem to be the oppressors of others around them.
Deuteronomy 28:25 The Lord shall cause you to be struck down before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them, and you shall be tossed to and fro and be a terror among all the kingdoms of the earth. [Fulfilled in II Chron. 29:8.]
Notice that the Amplified translators mention “the fulfillment” here. 2 Chronicles was written to Judah during the time of Hezekiah, yet this is not only written to Judah but to Israel, the northern kingdom as well. This is for the entire tribe. Therefore while some of these things came to pass in Judah, they are also applicable to Israel, and not specific to the southern kingdom only.
Deuteronomy 28:26 And your dead body shall be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there shall be no one to frighten them away.
27 The Lord will smite you with the boils of Egypt and the tumors, the scurvy and the itch, from which you cannot be healed.
28 The Lord will smite you with madness and blindness and dismay of [mind and] heart.
29 And you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in darkness. And you shall not prosper in your ways; and you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to save you.
30 You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her; you shall build a house, but not live in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but not gather its grapes.
31 Your ox shall be slain before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your donkey shall be violently taken away before your face and not be restored to you; your sheep shall be given to your enemies, and you shall have no one to help you.
Mental illness and physical illness is predominant here. Where do the most sickly populations live? Not near fancy hospitals with high earning doctors and surgeons.
Deuteronomy 28:32 Your sons and daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all the day; and there shall be no power in your hands to prevent it. [Fulfilled in II Chron. 29:9.]
Again, to point out, this happened in Judah and Israel several times. Daniel was one of those taken captive in the first captivity of Babylon.
Deuteronomy 28:33 A nation which you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your land and of all your labors, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually, [Fulfilled in Judg. 6:1–6; 13:1.]
34 So that you shall be driven mad by the sights which your eyes shall see.
Amplified writers point to Judges here; at this time the nation was one nation and had not split. This happened numerous times to both kingdoms.
Deuteronomy 28:35 The Lord will smite you on the knees and on the legs with a sore boil that cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the top of your head.
More physical trauma.
Deuteronomy 28:36 The Lord shall bring you and your king whom you have set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall [be forced to] serve other gods, of wood and stone. [Fulfilled in II Kings 17:4, 6; 24:12, 14; 25:7, 11; Dan. 6:11, 12.]
Both the northern and southern kingdoms are mentioned here.
Deuteronomy 28:37 And you shall become an amazement, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples to which the Lord will lead you.
38 You shall carry much seed out into the field and shall gather little in, for the locust shall consume it. [Fulfilled in Hag. 1:6.]
39 You shall plant vineyards and dress them but shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them.
40 You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory but you shall not anoint yourselves with the oil, for your olive trees shall drop their fruit.
41 You shall beget sons and daughters but shall not enjoy them, for they shall go into captivity. [Fulfilled in Lam. 1:5.]
Daniel, Hannah, Mishael, and Azariah, were part of the first captivity into Babylon.
Deuteronomy 28:42 All your trees and the fruit of your ground shall the locust possess. [Fulfilled in Joel 1:4.]
43 The transient (stranger) among you shall mount up higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower.
44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.
This is opposed to Deuteronomy 28:13 listed under the blessings if Israel would follow Yahweh Elohim.
Deuteronomy 28:45 All these curses shall come upon you and shall pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.
46 They shall be upon you for a sign [of warning to other nations] and for a wonder, and upon your descendants forever.
47 Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness of [mind and] heart [in gratitude] for the abundance of all [with which He had blessed you],
48 Therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord shall send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and in want of all things; and He will put a yoke of iron upon your neck until He has destroyed you.
They will serve their enemies. Do we see the Israelis of today serving their enemies? This curse is still applicable if they reject the Messiah Jesus.
Deuteronomy 28:49 The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you shall not understand,
50 A nation of unyielding countenance who will not regard the person of the old or show favor to the young,
51 And shall eat the fruit of your cattle and the fruit of your ground until you are destroyed, who also shall not leave you grain, new wine, oil, the increase of your cattle or the young of your sheep until they have caused you to perish.
52 They shall besiege you in all your towns until your high and fortified walls in which you trusted come down throughout all your land; and they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land which the Lord your God has given you.
53 And you shall eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and daughters whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and in the [pressing] misery with which your enemies shall distress you. [Fulfilled in II Kings 6:24–29.]
While this is true of the time of the northern kingdom under Ben-Hadad, it is also true of the southern kingdom’s captivity.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/08/slaves-curses-cannibalism-enslaved-and.html
Deuteronomy 28:54 The man who is most tender among you and extremely particular and well-bred, his eye shall be cruel and grudging of food toward his brother and toward the wife of his bosom and toward those of his children still remaining,
55 So that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children which he is eating, because he has nothing left to him in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you in all your towns.
56 The most tender and daintily bred woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot upon the ground because she is so dainty and kind, will grudge to the husband of her bosom, to her son and to her daughter
57 Her afterbirth that comes out from her body and the children whom she shall bear. For she will eat them secretly for want of anything else in the siege and distress with which your enemies shall distress you in your towns.
We should not be so naive as to think that the word of Yahweh Elohim would not come to pass repeatedly because of their own insistence of being under the curse. The rejection of the Messiah is a more severe curse for them because it means eternal death. There is no special favor here.
Deuteronomy 28:58 If you will not be watchful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may [reverently] fear this glorious and fearful name [and presence]—the lord your god—
59 Then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary strokes and blows, great plagues of long continuance, and grievous sicknesses of long duration.
60 Moreover, He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.
61 Also every sickness and every affliction which is not written in this Book of the Law the Lord will bring upon you until you are destroyed.
62 And you shall be left few in number, whereas you had been as the stars of the heavens for multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.
Few in number is correct as today’s population of Jews is at 15.8 million out of 8 billion people. Half of the 15 million live in other places, not Israel. 8.6 million people live in Israel. 7.2 million Jews do not live in Israel.
Deuteronomy 28:63 And as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and to multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice to bring ruin upon you and to destroy you; and you shall be plucked from the land into which you go to possess.
64 And the Lord shall scatter you among all peoples from one end of the earth to the other; and there you shall [be forced to] serve other gods, of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. [Fulfilled in Dan. 3:6.]
We also have to consider Arsereth here.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2023/02/arsereth-other-land-archer-erets.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2024/09/wars-coming-out-of-arsereth-healing-in.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2017/02/dreams-latter-days-left-behind-arsereth.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/06/conquest-of-babylon-atheism-latter-days.html
Deuteronomy 28:65 And among these nations you shall find no ease and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot; but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart, failing of eyes [from disappointment of hope], fainting of mind, and languishing of spirit.
66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you; day and night you shall be worried, and have no assurance of your life.
67 In the morning you shall say, Would that it were evening! and at evening you shall say, Would that it were morning!—because of the anxiety and dread of your [minds and] hearts and the sights which you shall see with your [own] eyes.
It is interesting that we do not see these characteristics in the people living in Israel today, especially when there is no temple and there is no way to make sacrifices to atone for sin. Today, if a Jew dies without accepting Jesus Messiah, that Jew dies in sin. There is no special dispensation for Jews who reject Jesus Messiah. Which brings us back to the point of who actually is living in Israel?
Deuteronomy 28:68 And the Lord shall bring you into Egypt again with ships by the way about which I said to you, You shall never see it again. And there you shall be sold to your enemies as bondmen and bondwomen, but no man shall buy you. [Hos. 8:13.]
The Amplified Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), Dt 28:15–68.
Now we see who the slaves were and who was traded as slaves all over the world. While every nation had slaves and some still have slaves, there are two nations that rejected slavery before all other nations. The missionaries who helped abolish slavery in England and the United States are William Wilberforce, John Newton, Thomas Clarkson, the Quakers, John Wesley, just to name a few.
Deuteronomy 30:1 (AMP) AND WHEN all these things have come upon you, the blessings and the curses which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you,
2 And shall return to the Lord your God and obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being,
3 Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion upon you and will gather you again from all the nations where He has scattered you.
4 Even if any of your dispersed are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and from there will He bring you.
5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will do you good and multiply you above your fathers.
The Amplified Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), Dt 30:1–5.
Moses makes no secret that the Israelites would be scattered everywhere if they chose the curse. At the end of the Day of the Lord, Yahweh Jesus Messiah will bring the heirs of Jacob back into Israel. They will come from the utter most parts of heaven, and the corners of the earth. The establishment of Israel as a nation has little to do with the true heirs of Jacob. In fact, we see by what Moses just said that they would be scattered until He brings them back at the start of the millennial kingdom. Jesus can find the real heirs of Jacob and he will seal 144,000 young virgin males and later bring them up to heaven.
If there are 15.8 million Jews and Jesus redeems only 144,000 midway through the tribulation. It tells us that there are very few true heirs of Jacob on the earth. 144,000 young male virgins must have two parents, meaning at minimum 432,000 people meeting the qualification of heir of Jacob are on the earth.
Recognizing that the 144,000 heirs of Jacob are probably not in Israel, we can understand the animosity Jews have for others who actually go ahead of them into the kingdom of God. Jesus warned everyone of that very thing. Many people LARP or CosPlay as holy pious religious leaders in an attempt to influence sympathies and money for Israel. Yet our focus should be on the same thing it always has been, making disciples of all people for Jesus Messiah.
Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Romans 3:29 G2228 Or G* [3of Jews G3588 G2316 1 is God G3440 2only]? G3780 But is he not G1161 G2532 also G1484 of nations? G3483 Yes, G2532 also G1484 of nations.
The Elohim is for all people of all nations. The sons of Jacob were chosen to teach the world, as Abraham did in his day because of Jacob’s dedication to serving in the tents of Shem and Eber. Jacob served Yahweh until he was fifty seven years old before he left and went to Laban’s house.
Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Rom 9:25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
Romans 9:24 G3739 whom G2532 also G2564 he called G1473 us G3756 not G3440 only G1537 from out of G* Jews, G235 but G2532 also G1537 from out of G1484 the nations,
25 G5613 (as G2532 also G1722 in G3588 G* Hosea G3004 he says, G2564 I will call G3588 the one G3756 not G2992 my people, G1473 G2992 My people; G1473 G2532 and G3588 the one G3756 not G25 being loved, G25 One being loved;
There is always a group of people who want to suggest that Judaism and Christianity are a side by side equal religion. This is inaccurate. In Christianity there is salvation unto eternal life now, today. In Judaism there is only death, because there is no temple to make atonement for one’s own sins. Without a temple offering people die in their sins. Jesus died for the sins of those who believe on him. Jesus is the Lamb whose blood was shed as a perfect sacrifice, a once for all time sacrifice. There is no other salvation available outside of Jesus Messiah.
Rom 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.
Romans 11:25 G3756 For I do not G1063 G2309 want G1473 you G50 to be ignorant, G80 brethren, G3588 G3466 of this mystery, G3778 G2443 that G3361 you should not G1510.3 be G3844 [2in G1438 3yourselves G5429 1intelligent], G3754 that G4457 callousness G575 [2in part G3313 G3588 3 to G* 4Israel G1096 1has happened] G891 until G3739 of which time G3588 the G4138 fullness G3588 of the G1484 nations G1525 should enter in.
There is a time period for Israel’s blindness. It is until all the nations come in. Do you think that Jesus loves the nations? Do you think he approves of the nations he loves being slurred? Not all nations were heathen or pagan, many nations came from Shem or blended with Semites. Today every one of the fifteen million Jews can confess Jesus as Yahweh Messiah and believe the Elohim rose him up on the third day. They do not have to be blind.
Paul continues explaining regarding the nations. Interesting here in verse 9 the Amplified translators put nations in parentheses in the first usage of Gentile, to direct the reader that Paul was speaking of nations. Yet in the rest of the context they do not point this out.
Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ (the Messiah) became a servant and a minister to the circumcised (the Jews) in order to show God’s truthfulness and honesty by confirming (verifying) the promises [given] to our fathers,
9 And [also in order] that the Gentiles (nations) might glorify God for His mercy [not covenanted] to them. As it is written, Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles Nations and sing praises to Your name. [Ps. 18:49.]
10 Again it is said, Rejoice (exult), O Gentiles Nations, along with His [own] people; [Deut. 32:43.]
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles Nations, and let all the peoples praise Him! [Ps. 117:1.]
12 And further Isaiah says, There shall be a Sprout from the Root of Jesse, He Who rises to rule over the Gentiles Nations; in Him shall the Gentiles Nations hope. [Isa. 11:1, 10; Rev. 5:5; 22:16.]
13 May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.
14 Personally I am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are rich in goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another also.
15 Still on some points I have written to you the more boldly and unreservedly by way of reminder. [I have done so] because of the grace (the unmerited favor) bestowed on me by God
16 In making me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles Nations. I act in the priestly service of the Gospel (the good news) of God, in order that the sacrificial offering of the Gentiles Nations may be acceptable [to God], consecrated and made holy by the Holy Spirit.
17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have legitimate reason to glory (exult) in my work for God [in what through Christ Jesus I have accomplished concerning the things of God].
18 For [of course] I will not venture (presume) to speak thus of any work except what Christ has actually done through me [as an instrument in His hands] to win obedience from the Gentiles Nations, by word and deed,
19 [Even as my preaching has been accompanied] with the power of signs and wonders, [and all of it] by the power of the Holy Spirit. [The result is] that starting from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel [faithfully executing, accomplishing, carrying out to the full the good news] of Christ (the Messiah) in its entirety.
The Amplified Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987), Ro 15:8–19.
Paul is writing to the Romans who are what? Nations, goyim. While there are some believing Jews living in Rome, the unbelieving Jews arrested Paul and set him up to be jailed for heresy. The nations welcomed the message and received Jesus Messiah instead of the Jews. Paul is pleased that they can instruct one another which also upset the Jews because there wasn’t a formal religious leader. The message was that anyone can come to Christ without a mediator. Anyone can receive the Holy Spirit without a religious ceremony. Anyone can be saved without tithes, indulgences, or sacrifices in the temple.
The nations are not all heathen pagans. There are many nations that worship Yahweh Jesus Messiah. There are 2.5 billion Christians in the world. We have to wonder why the Jews are so harsh on other nations, as they themselves should be the evangelists to Yahweh Elohim. Just like Christians today are the most medicated people due to constant spiritual pressure, the Jews were always under spiritual pressure. Becoming a Christian does not eradicate the spiritual battle over our lives, it just changes the dynamic from dying in sin, unsaved, to dying with our sins paid for, with eternal life. We live in the age of the nations, and the Jews are not our teachers, we are their teachers. Let the nations rejoice and praise Yahweh.
