Goy

Goy (Hebrew גוי) is a Hebrew word which means "nation" or "people". It is generally (though not exclusively) used to refer to non-Jews.

Related Topics:
Hebrew - Nation - People

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The first use of Goy (plural, Goyim ) in the Hebrew Bible is in Genesis 10:1, in reference to non-Israelite nations. Its first use in reference to Israelites is in Genesis 12:2, where Abraham is promised that his descendants will form a goy gadol or great nation. The word (in its various forms) is used over 550 times in the Hebrew Bible; in the earlier books it more often refers to the Israelites, but in the later books it more often refers to non-Israelite nations. As a result, in Hebrew and Yiddish goy has come to refer to a member of the Gentile (i.e. non-Jewish) nations.

Related Topics:
Hebrew Bible - Genesis - Israelite - Abraham - Yiddish - Gentile - Jew

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While its use in any language is generally neutral, it can, in certain contexts, be used as a pejorative term. As with many Yiddish words the exact connotation depends on the context in which it is used. As a result, "Goy" has become widely thought of by the western world as negative or insulting, and has somewhat fallen out of favour. In recent decades, written works in Hebrew and Yiddish have begun using circumlocutions which generally translate as "non-Jew" or "gentile" instead.

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When applied by Jews to other Jews, it is almost always derogatory, and implies either non-compliance with Jewish law or modes of behavior inconsistent with traditional Judaism.

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