12 Bible Verses about Heathen

Most Relevant Verses

Matthew 6:7

"But [when you] pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard.

Leviticus 18:24-30

" 'You must not make yourself unclean in any of these [things], because the nations whom I am driving out from your presence were made unclean by all of these. So the land became unclean, and {I have brought the punishment of} its guilt upon it, and the land has vomited out its inhabitants. But you ([neither] the native nor the alien who is dwelling in your midst) shall keep my statutes and my regulations, and you shall not {practice} any of these detestable thingsread more.
(because the people of the land, who [were] {before you}, did all these detestable things, so the land became unclean), so that the land will not vomit you out when you make it unclean [just] as it vomited out the nation that [was] {before you}. Indeed, anyone who does any of these detestable things, even those persons who do so shall be cut off from the midst of their people. Thus you shall keep my obligation to not do any of the statutes {regarding} the detestable things that they did {before you}, so that you will not make yourselves unclean by them; I [am] Yahweh your God.'"

Jeremiah 10:2

Thus says Yahweh: "You must not learn the way of the nations, and you must not be dismayed by the signs of the heavens, for the nations are dismayed by them.

2 Kings 17:8

They walked in the statutes of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out from before the {Israelites}, which the kings of Israel had introduced.

Psalm 135:15

The idols of the nations [are] silver and gold, [the] work of the hands of humankind.

Psalm 44:2

You [with] your hand drove out the nations, but them you planted. You harmed [the] peoples, but them you let spread out.

Joel 3:11-13

Hurry and come, all the nations, from all around, and gather [yourselves] there. Bring down your mighty warriors, O Yahweh! Let the nations be roused and let them come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations from all around. Send forth [the] sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Go tread, for [the] winepress is full! The vats overflow, because their evil [is] great!

Psalm 9:15

[The] nations have fallen in [the] pit [that] they made; their foot is caught in [the] net that they hid.

Psalm 79:10

Why should the nations say, "Where [is] their God?" Let it be known among the nations before our eyes, [by] the avenging of the blood of your servants that was poured out.

Ezra 6:21

The {Israelites} who returned from the exile and all those who separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the earth to seek Yahweh the God of Israel, ate.

From Thematic Bible


Adultery » Instances of » Heathen

Ephesians 4:17-19

This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, [that] you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk: in the futility of their mind, being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance [that] is in them, because of the hardness of their heart, who, becoming callous, gave themselves over to licentiousness, for the pursuit of all uncleanness in greediness.

Gentiles » Called » Heathen

Heathen » General references to

Ezra 6:21

The {Israelites} who returned from the exile and all those who separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the earth to seek Yahweh the God of Israel, ate.

2 Kings 16:3

He walked in the way of the kings of Israel; he even let his son pass through the fire according to the detestable things of the nations which Yahweh drove out from before the {Israelites}.

Matthew 6:7

"But [when you] pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard.

Psalm 9:15

[The] nations have fallen in [the] pit [that] they made; their foot is caught in [the] net that they hid.

Heathen » Their land given to israel

Psalm 78:55

And he drove out nations before them and allocated them for an inheritance by [boundary] line, and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

Psalm 105:44

And he gave to them [the] lands of [the] nations, and they inherited [the] labor of [the] peoples,

Psalm 135:12

and he gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance for his people Israel.

Psalm 136:21-22

And he gave their land as an inheritance, for his loyal love [endures] forever. An inheritance to Israel his servant, for his loyal love [endures] forever.

Isaiah 54:1-3

"Sing for joy, barren [woman]; [who] has not borne! Burst forth [into] rejoicing and rejoice, [she who] has not been in labor! For [the] children of [the] desolate woman [are] more than [the] children of [the] married woman," says Yahweh. "Enlarge the site of your tent, and let them stretch out the tent curtains of your dwelling place. You must not spare; make your tent cords long and strengthen your pegs, for you will spread out [to the] right and [to the] left. And your descendants will be heir [to the] nations, and they will inhabit desolate towns.

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Cyrus

2 Chronicles 36:23

"Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: 'Yahweh the God of heaven has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has appointed me to build a house for him at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah. Whoever [is] among you from all his people, may Yahweh his God go up with him.'"

Ezra 1:1-4

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, Yahweh stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia and he sent a message to all of his kingdom and also [put the message] in writing: "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: Yahweh, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. And he himself has appointed me to build a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever among you [who is] from all of his people, may his God be with him and may he go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may he build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel. He is the God who [is] in Jerusalem. read more.
And let every survivor, from wherever he {resides} be assisted by the men of that place with silver and gold, with possessions and domestic animals, and with the freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem."

Heathen » Cast out of canaan

Leviticus 18:24-25

" 'You must not make yourself unclean in any of these [things], because the nations whom I am driving out from your presence were made unclean by all of these. So the land became unclean, and {I have brought the punishment of} its guilt upon it, and the land has vomited out its inhabitants.

Psalm 44:2

You [with] your hand drove out the nations, but them you planted. You harmed [the] peoples, but them you let spread out.

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » The centurion at capernaum

Matthew 8:5-13

Now [when] he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my slave is lying paralyzed in my house, terribly tormented!" And he said to him, "I will come [and] heal him." read more.
And the centurion answered [and] said, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. But only say the word and my slave will be healed. For I also am a man under authority who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]." Now [when] Jesus heard [this], he was astonished, and said to those who were following [him], "Truly I say to you, I have found such great faith with no one in Israel. But I say to you that many will come from east and west and {be seated at the banquet} with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!" And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, as you have believed it will be done for you." And the slave was healed at that hour.

Luke 7:2-9

Now a certain centurion's slave, who was esteemed by him, {was sick} [and] was about to die. So [when he] heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, asking him that he would come [and] cure his slave. And [when they] came to Jesus, they began imploring him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy [that] you grant this for him, read more.
because he loves our nation and he himself built the synagogue for us." So Jesus went with them. Now by this time he was not far away from the house, [and] the centurion sent friends, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. For this reason neither did I consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my slave must be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]." And [when] Jesus heard these [things], he marveled at him, and turning around to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!"

Heathen » Instances of » The centurion at capernaum

Matthew 8:5-13

Now [when] he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my slave is lying paralyzed in my house, terribly tormented!" And he said to him, "I will come [and] heal him." read more.
And the centurion answered [and] said, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. But only say the word and my slave will be healed. For I also am a man under authority who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]." Now [when] Jesus heard [this], he was astonished, and said to those who were following [him], "Truly I say to you, I have found such great faith with no one in Israel. But I say to you that many will come from east and west and {be seated at the banquet} with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!" And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, as you have believed it will be done for you." And the slave was healed at that hour.

Luke 7:2-9

Now a certain centurion's slave, who was esteemed by him, {was sick} [and] was about to die. So [when he] heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, asking him that he would come [and] cure his slave. And [when they] came to Jesus, they began imploring him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy [that] you grant this for him, read more.
because he loves our nation and he himself built the synagogue for us." So Jesus went with them. Now by this time he was not far away from the house, [and] the centurion sent friends, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. For this reason neither did I consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my slave must be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does [it]." And [when] Jesus heard these [things], he marveled at him, and turning around to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!"

Heathen » Pious people among

Isaiah 65:5

{who say}, "{Keep to yourself}! You must not come near me, for I am [too] holy for you!" These [are] a smoke in my {nostrils}, a fire burning all day.

Acts 10:35

but in every nation the one who fears him and who does what is right is acceptable to him.

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Belshazzar

Daniel 5:5

{Immediately} {human fingers} appeared and they wrote {opposite} the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the palace of the king, and the king was watching the palm of the hand that was writing.

Daniel 5:24-29

So then the palm of the hand was sent out from his presence and this writing was inscribed. "Now this was the writing that was inscribed: 'Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin.' "This [is] the explanation of the matter: 'Mene'--God has numbered your kingdom and brought an end [to] it. read more.
" 'Tekel'--you have been weighed on scales and you have been found wanting. " 'Peres'--your kingdom has been divided and given to [the] Medes and Persians.'" Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel [with] purple and [placed] a necklace of gold around his neck, and they made a proclamation concerning him that he would be [the] third ruler [in authority] in the kingdom.

Heathen » Instances of » Melchizedek

Genesis 14:18-20

And Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. (He was the priest of God Most High). And he blessed him and said, "Blessed [be] Abram by God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth. And blessed [be] God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave to him a tenth of everything.

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Pharaoh

Genesis 41:1-28

And it happened [that] after {two full years} Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. And behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, {ugly and gaunt}, and they stood beside those cows on the bank of the Nile. read more.
And the {ugly and gaunt} cows ate the seven {well built and fat} cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time, and behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were coming out of one stalk. And behold, seven thin ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven plump and full ears of grain. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, [it was] a dream. And it happened [that] in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called all of the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men, and Pharaoh told his dream to them. But {they had no interpretation} for Pharaoh. Then the chief of the cupbearers spoke with Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my sins today. Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the house of the chief of the guard. And we dreamed a dream one night, I and he, {each with a dream that had a meaning}. And there with us [was] a young man, a Hebrew servant of the chief of the guard, and we told him [the dream], and he interpreted our dreams for us, each according to his dream he interpreted. And it happened just as he interpreted to us, so it was. He restored me to my office, and him he hanged." Then Pharaoh sent and called [for] Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I dreamed a dream, but there is none to interpret it. Now, I have heard concerning you [that when] you hear a dream [you can] interpret it." Then Joseph answered Pharaoh saying, "{It is not in my power}; God will answer [concerning] the well-being of Pharaoh." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "[Now] in my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile, and behold, seven cows, {well built and fat}, were coming up from the Nile, and they grazed among the reeds. And behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, very {ugly and gaunt}--never have I seen [any] as them in all the land of Egypt for ugliness. And the thin and ugly cows ate the former seven healthy cows. But [when] they went into their bellies it could not be known that they went into their bellies, for their appearance [was] as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. Then I saw in my dream and behold, seven ears of grain were coming out of one stalk, full and good. And behold, seven withered ears of grain, thin [and] scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. And the thin ears of grain swallowed up the seven good ears of grain. And I told the magicians, but there was none to explain [it] to me." Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh [are] one. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows, they are seven years, and the seven good ears of grain, they [are] seven years. The dreams [are] one. And the seven thin and ugly cows coming up after them, they [are] seven years, and the seven empty ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, they are [also] seven years of famine. This [is] the word that I have spoken to Pharaoh; God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.

Heathen » Instances of » The ninevites

Jonah 3:5-10

And the people of Nineveh believed in God, and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth--from the greatest of them {to the least important}. And the news reached the king of Nineveh, and he rose from his throne and removed his royal robe, put on sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. And he had a proclamation made, and said, "In Nineveh, by a decree of the king and his nobles: "No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything! They must not eat, and they must not drink water! read more.
And [the] human beings and [the] animals must be covered [with] sackcloth! And they must call forcefully to God, and each must turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind and turn {from his blazing anger} {so that} we will not perish." And God saw their deeds--that they turned from their evil ways--and God changed his mind about the evil that he had said [he would] bring upon them, and he did not do [it].

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » The magi (wise men from the east)

Matthew 2:1-11

Now [after] Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising and have come to worship him." And [when] King Herod heard [it], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, read more.
and [after] calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired from them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you will go out a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men [and] determined precisely from them the time [when] the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem [and] said, "Go, inquire carefully concerning the child, and when you have found [him], report to me so that I also may come [and] worship him." [After] they listened to the king, they went out, and behold, the star which they had seen at its rising led them until it came [and] stood above [the place] where the child was. Now [when they] saw the star, they rejoiced [with] very great joy. And [when they] came into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down [and] worshiped him. And opening their treasure boxes, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Nebuchadnezzar

Daniel 4:1-18

Nebuchadnezzar the king to all of the nations, the peoples and languages that live in the whole earth: "May your prosperity increase! It is pleasing to me to recount the signs and wonders that the Most High God worked for me. How great [are] his signs and wonders, how strong [is] his kingdom, {an everlasting kingdom}; and his sovereignty is from generation to generation. read more.
"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was content in my house and prospering in my palace. And I saw a dream and a revelation on my bed and it frightened me, and the visions of my head terrified me. And a decree was {sent out}, [ordering that] all [the] wise men of Babylon [were] to be brought in before me [so] that they may make known to me [the] explanation of the dream. Then the magicians, the conjurers, the {astrologers} and the diviners came in and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its explanation. Then {at last} Daniel came before me {whose name was} Belteshazzar, {according to} the name of my god, [and] {in whom was the spirit of the holy gods}, {and I related the dream to him}. " ' Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I myself know that [the] spirit of [the] holy gods [is] in you, and {no mystery is too difficult} for you. [Now] tell [me] [the] visions of my dream that I saw, and its explanation. Now [these were] the visions of my head [as I was lying] on my bed: I was {gazing} and, look, a tree [was] in the midst of the earth, and its height [was] exalted. The tree grew and it became strong, and its height reached to heaven, and {it was visible to the end of the whole earth}. Its foliage [was] beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it [was] provision for all. Under it the animals of the field sought shade, and in its branches the birds of heaven nested, and from it all the living beings were fed. " 'I was looking in the vision of my head [as I lay] on my bed, and look, a watcher, and holy [one], came down from heaven. He cried {aloud} and so he said: "Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it, and the birds from its branches. But the stump of its roots leave in the earth, {along with} a band of iron and bronze; [leave it] in the grass of the field. And in the dew of heaven let it be watered, and with the animals let his lot [be] in [the] grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from [that of a] human, and let [the] mind of an animal be given to him, and let seven times pass over him. The sentence [is] by [the] decree of [the] watchers, and the decision [by] [the] command of [the] holy [ones], {in order that} the living will know that the Most High [is] sovereign over [the] kingdom of humankind, and {to whomever} he wills he gives it, and he [even] sets [the] humblest of men over it." " 'This [is] the dream [that] I, Nebuchadnezzar the king, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its explanation, {for} all of [the] wise men of my kingdom were not able to make the explanation known to me, but you are able because [the] spirit of holy gods [is] in you.'

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Cornelius

Acts 10:1-7

Now [there was] a certain man in Caesarea {named} Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort, devout and fearing God together with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people and praying to God {continually}. About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, "Cornelius." read more.
And he stared at him and became terrified [and] said, "What is [it], Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your charitable deeds have gone up for a memorial offering before God. And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is also called Peter. This man is staying as a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea." And when the angel who spoke to him departed, he summoned two of the household slaves and a devout soldier from those who attended him,

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » Abimelech

Genesis 20:3-7

And God came to Abimelech in a dream at night. And he said to him, "Look, you [are] a dead man on account of the woman you have taken. For she [is] {a married woman}." Now Abimelech had not approached her, so he said, "my Lord, will you even kill a righteous people?" Did not he himself say to me, 'She [is] my sister'? And she herself said, 'He [is] my brother.' With integrity of my heart and with cleanness of my hands I did this." read more.
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you did this, and I also {kept you from sinning} against me. Therefore, I did not allow you to touch her. So now, return the wife of the man, for he [is] a prophet, so that he will pray for you and you will live. And {if you do not return her}, know that you will certainly die, and all that [are] yours."

Heathen » Instances of » The magi (the wise men from the east)

Matthew 2:1-12

Now [after] Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star at its rising and have come to worship him." And [when] King Herod heard [it], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, read more.
and [after] calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired from them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet, 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you will go out a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men [and] determined precisely from them the time [when] the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem [and] said, "Go, inquire carefully concerning the child, and when you have found [him], report to me so that I also may come [and] worship him." [After] they listened to the king, they went out, and behold, the star which they had seen at its rising led them until it came [and] stood above [the place] where the child was. Now [when they] saw the star, they rejoiced [with] very great joy. And [when they] came into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down [and] worshiped him. And opening their treasure boxes, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their [own] country by another route.

Heathen » Instances of » Cyrus

Ezra 1:1-3

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to accomplish the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, Yahweh stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia and he sent a message to all of his kingdom and also [put the message] in writing: "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: Yahweh, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. And he himself has appointed me to build a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever among you [who is] from all of his people, may his God be with him and may he go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may he build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel. He is the God who [is] in Jerusalem.

Heathen » Excluded from the temple

Lamentations 1:10

The enemy has stretched out his hand over all her treasures; for she has seen the nations, they entered her sanctuary, those whom you commanded not to enter in your assembly.

Heathen » Instances of » Zophar

Heathen » Instances of » Elihu

Heathen » Divine revelations given to » balaam

Heathen » Instances of » The centurion at caesarea

Heathen » Instances of » Abimelech

Heathen » Instances of » Eliphaz

Heathen » Instances of » Jethro

Heathen » Instances of » Bildad

Heathen » Instances of » balaam

Heathen » Instances of » Nebuchadnezzar, after his restoration

Topics on Heathen

Temples, Heathen

Judges 16:28-30

And Samson called to Yahweh and said, "My Lord Yahweh, remember me! Please give me strength this one time, O God, so that I can repay [with] one act of revenge to [the] Philistines for my eyes."

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