who were the gentiles in the bible

In the Bible, the term "Gentiles" refers to people who are not of Jewish descent. It stems from the Hebrew word "goyim," meaning "nations" or "peoples," and the Greek word "ethné," also meaning "nations" or "people groups." Essentially, Gentiles are anyone who is not an Israelite or Jew. From a Jewish perspective in biblical times, Gentiles were often seen as outsiders, pagans, or those who did not follow the God of Israel. They were sometimes considered "unclean" and were distinct from the covenant people of Israel. Gentiles are contrasted with Jews because Jews were the chosen people who had a covenant with God and followed His commandments, while Gentiles were seen as foreign nations who did not share this relationship initially. However, the New Testament expands on this distinction by showing that Gentiles could become part of God's people through faith in Jesus Christ, as seen with figures like Cornelius, a Roman centurion who converted to Christianity. Thus, "Gentiles" in the Bible broadly refers to non-Jewish peoples, often pagan, who were initially outside the covenant community but included in God's plan of salvation through Jesus.