Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, the term "native" often refers to individuals who are indigenous to a particular land or region. This concept is significant in understanding the cultural, social, and religious dynamics present in biblical narratives. The Bible frequently addresses the relationship between the Israelites and the native inhabitants of the lands they encounter, particularly in the context of the Promised Land.Native Inhabitants of Canaan The land of Canaan, promised to the descendants of Abraham, was inhabited by various native groups, including the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These groups are often collectively referred to as the Canaanites. The Israelites' interactions with these native peoples are a recurring theme in the Old Testament. God commanded the Israelites to drive out the native inhabitants to avoid being led astray by their idolatrous practices. In Exodus 23:31-33 , God instructs, "I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods." Native Customs and Practices The Bible often contrasts the customs and religious practices of native peoples with those commanded by God to the Israelites. The native inhabitants of Canaan practiced idolatry and other rituals that were abominable to the Lord. Leviticus 18:24-25 warns the Israelites, "Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its iniquity, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants." Treatment of Native Peoples While the Israelites were commanded to conquer the land of Canaan, the Bible also provides guidelines for the treatment of native peoples who lived among them. The Israelites were instructed to treat foreigners and sojourners with justice and compassion. Leviticus 19:33-34 states, "When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." Native Israelites The term "native" is also used to describe those who are naturally born into the Israelite community. This distinction is important in the context of religious observances and covenantal identity. For example, in the observance of the Passover, Exodus 12:48 specifies, "If a foreigner residing among you wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in his household must be circumcised; then he may take part, like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it." Spiritual Implications The concept of being "native" in the biblical sense extends beyond ethnicity or birthplace. It encompasses a spiritual identity rooted in the covenant relationship with God. The New Testament expands this idea, emphasizing that through faith in Christ, believers become part of the spiritual "Israel," regardless of their ethnic or national origin. Galatians 3:28-29 declares, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise." In summary, the biblical concept of "native" encompasses both the physical inhabitants of a land and the spiritual identity of those who belong to God's covenant community. The Bible provides a framework for understanding the complex interactions between native peoples and the Israelites, emphasizing themes of obedience, justice, and inclusion in God's redemptive plan. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (a.) Arising by birth; having an origin; born.2. (a.) of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or the circumstances in which one is born; -- opposed to foreign; as, native land, language, color, etc. 3. (a.) Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where used or sold; not foreign or imported; as, native oysters, or strawberries. 4. (a.) Original; constituting the original substance of anything; as, native dust. 5. (a.) Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one; inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius, cheerfulness, simplicity, rights, etc. 6. (a.) Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). 7. (a.) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as, native silver. 8. (a.) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium chloride. 9. (n.) One who, or that which, is born in a place or country referred to; a denizen by birth; an animal, a fruit, or vegetable, produced in a certain region; as, a native of France. 10. (n.) Any of the live stock found in a region, as distinguished from such as belong to pure and distinct imported breeds. Greek 961a. Beroiaios -- Berean, a native of Berea ... 961, 961a. Beroiaios. 961b . Berean, a native of Berea. Transliteration: Beroiaios Short Definition: Berea. Word Origin from Beroia ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/961a.htm - 5k 961. Beroiaios -- Berean, a native of Berea 1786. entopios -- of a place, a resident 3968. patris -- of one's fathers, fatherland 4853. sumphuletes -- a fellow tribesman or countryman 5478. Chananaios -- Canaanite, a Gentile of Pal. 3794. ochuroma -- a stronghold, fortress 4948. Suros -- Syrian 2203. Zeus -- Zeus, the greatest of the pagan Gk. gods 4847. sumpolites -- a fellow citizen Strong's Hebrew 249. ezrach -- a native... 248, 249. ezrach. 250 . a native. Transliteration: ezrach Phonetic Spelling: (ez-rawkh') Short Definition: native. Word Origin from ... /hebrew/249.htm - 6k 1622. Girgashi -- a native tribe of Canaan 701. Arbi -- a native of Arab 757. Arki -- a native of a place in Palestine 512. Elqoshi -- a native of Elkosh 1629b. Girzi -- member of a native tribe in Pal 4138. moledeth -- kindred, birth, offspring 756. Arkevaye -- inhab. of Erech 1273. Barchumi -- Barhumite 2577. Chamathi -- descendant of Canaan Library Native Christians. Native Christians (Continued). The First Native Converts and Christian Schools National Days 428. God Bless Our Native Land His Arrival in his Native Land and the virtues Practised There ... Ignatius Leaves his Native Land --What He did at Montserrat and at ... In those Years when I First Began to Teach Rhetoric in My Native ... Moral Depravity. God Spelling Himself Out in Jesus. The Swiss Reformer. Thesaurus Native (35 Occurrences)... a.) of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or the circumstances in which one is born; -- opposed to foreign; as, native land, language ... /n/native.htm - 19k Native-born (16 Occurrences) Lystra (6 Occurrences) Bay (8 Occurrences) Sojourning (35 Occurrences) Timothy (28 Occurrences) Alien (102 Occurrences) Elamarna Tablets (31 Occurrences) El-amarna Resources What are the religious / spiritual beliefs of Native Americans? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the insider movement? | GotQuestions.org What is structuralism? | GotQuestions.org Native: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Native (35 Occurrences)Luke 4:23 John 8:44 Acts 2:8 Acts 4:36 Acts 6:1 Acts 18:2 Acts 18:24 Genesis 24:7 Genesis 31:13 Exodus 12:19 Exodus 12:48 Exodus 12:49 Leviticus 16:29 Leviticus 17:15 Leviticus 18:26 Leviticus 19:34 Leviticus 23:42 Leviticus 24:16 Leviticus 24:22 Numbers 9:14 Numbers 15:13 Numbers 15:29 Numbers 15:30 Numbers 22:5 Joshua 8:33 Ruth 2:11 Ruth 4:10 Psalms 37:35 Isaiah 13:14 Jeremiah 22:10 Jeremiah 46:16 Ezekiel 23:15 Ezekiel 47:22 Amos 7:11 Amos 7:17 Subtopics Related Terms |
    |