Bible Dictionary
Alien
An alien was a foreigner or sojourner living among another people. In the New Testament, the term also describes those alienated from God and outside the blessings of Christ.
Definition
An alien is a foreigner, stranger, or sojourner living among another people without the ordinary rights of citizenship. In biblical usage the word can also describe a person who is foreign, unrelated, hostile, or outside a community.
Biblical Usage
In the Old Testament, aliens were people who were not Israelites, though the law required that strangers receive certain rights and protections. In the New Testament, alienation is used figuratively of those outside Christ and the blessing of the gospel.
Historical Background
Hebrew law distinguished strangers generally from those dwelling in the land without naturalization. Under stated conditions, foreigners could share certain rights and enter the congregation through circumcision and abandonment of idolatry.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A foreigner, or person born in another country, and therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of the country where he resides. Among the Hebrews there were two classes of aliens. (1.) Those who were strangers generally, and who owned no landed property. (2.) Strangers dwelling in another country without being naturalized (Lev. 22:10; Ps. 39:12). Both of these classes were to enjoy, under certain conditions, the same rights as other citizens (Lev. 19:33, 34; Deut. 10:19). They might be naturalized and permitted to enter into the congregation of the Lord by submitting to circumcision and abandoning idolatry (Deut. 23:3-8). This term is used (Eph. 2:12) to denote persons who have no interest in Christ.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>al'-yen: Found in the King James Version for ger, (Ex 18:3) = "guest," hence: "foreigner," "sojourner" the Revised Version (British and American); also for nekhar (Isa 61:5) = "foreign," "a foreigner" the Revised Version (British and American) (concrete), "heathendom" (abstract), "alien," "strange" (-er), and for nokhri (De 14:21 the Revised Version (British and American) "foreigner"; compare Job 19:15; Ps 69:8; La 5:2)--"strange," in a variety of degrees and meanings: "foreign," "non-relative," "adulterous," "different," "wonderful," "alien," "outlandish," "strange." In the New Testament we find apellotriomenos (Eph 4:18; Col 1:21) = "being alienated," and allotrios (Heb 11:34) = "another's," "not one's own," hence: "foreign," "not akin," "hostile." In the Old Testament the expression was taken in its literal sense, referring to those who were not Israelites--the heathen; in the New Testament it is given a figurative meaning, as indicating those who have not become naturalized in the kingdom of God, hence are outside of Christ and the blessing of the gospel.</p><p>Frank E. Hirsch</p>