ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Gôwy (H1471) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Gôwy (גּוֹי, H1471) is a Hebrew noun meaning a nation or people-group, most often translated 'nation' or 'Gentile.'
Significado de la palabra
In the supplied lexicon, gôwy is defined as 'a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile.' The basic sense is a politically or ethnically organized group of people distinct from one's own community.
In the genealogical lists of Genesis 10 the word denotes the nations that descended from Noah's sons and spread over the earth, each with its own land, language, and family line.
It is also used for the nation Israel itself, as in God's promise to Abraham, 'I will make of thee a great nation' (Gen 12:2), and of Abraham becoming 'the father of a multitude of nations' (Gen 17:4-5).
Uso en las Escrituras
The example verses cluster around Genesis 10, where gôwy is repeated to describe the post-flood peoples divided 'after their families, in their nations' (10:20, 31, 32). The same chapter uses the related form gôyim for the same idea (10:5).
In covenant contexts, gôwy takes on a theological weight. Gen 15:14 speaks of 'that nation' whom Abraham's descendants will serve, while Gen 17:4-5 promises Abraham that he will father 'a multitude of nations.'
Genesis 14:1 and 14:9 use the proper name 'Goiim' (the plural of gôwy) for a people or district associated with Tidal 'king of Goiim.'
La palabra en detalle
- H1471 גּוֹי (gôwy), H1471. A noun meaning 'nation' or 'people.' Used for organized groups such as the table-of-nations peoples (Gen 10) and for Israel itself in covenant promises (Gen 12:2; 17:4-5). The supplied example verses all illustrate this nation/people-group sense; figurative uses (such as a 'troop of animals' or 'flight of locusts') appear in the lexicon entry but are not represented in the provided examples.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 10:5 Uses the plural gôyim for the nations descended from Noah's sons, already divided into distinct peoples with their own tongues and families.
- Genesis 10:32 Summarizes the whole chapter: from Noah's sons 'the nations [gôy] divided in the earth after the flood.'
- Genesis 12:2 God's call to Abram: 'I will make of thee a great nation [gôy].' Here the same word that elsewhere names other peoples is applied to the people that will come from Abraham.
- Genesis 15:14 Refers to 'that nation' whom Abraham's descendants will serve and later be delivered from — in context the nation is Egypt, not Abraham's own offspring.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does gôwy (H1471) mean?
It means a 'nation' or 'people-group' — an organized community distinct from one's own. The supplied lexicon defines it as 'a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile.'
Does gôwy refer only to non-Israelite nations?
No. As the example verses show, it is used for the nations of the Genesis 10 table and for the nation(s) arising from Abraham (Gen 12:2; 17:4-5), as well as for Egypt in Gen 15:14.
What is 'Goiim' in Genesis 14?
Goiim is the plural form of gôwy used as a proper name for a people or region ruled by 'Tidal king of Goiim' (Gen 14:1, 9).