In Scripture, bastard refers either to offspring excluded from Israel’s assembly under the Mosaic law or, in the New Testament, to one without the privileges of a legitimate son. Zechariah may use the term for a mixed or foreign population.
Definition
Bastard refers in Scripture either to offspring excluded from the assembly under the Mosaic law or, in Hebrews, to one born outside legitimate sonship and therefore lacking the privileges of a legitimate child. In Zechariah it may describe a mixed or foreign population.
Biblical Usage
Deuteronomy excludes the bastard and descendants to the tenth generation from the assembly of the Lord. Zechariah says that a bastard race would dwell in Ashdod. Hebrews uses the term for those who do not share the privileges of God’s children.
Historical Background
The supplied material explains the Deuteronomy term as probably referring to offspring of incestuous unions or marriages within prohibited degrees, rather than to every child born outside marriage. Zechariah’s use probably refers to a mixed population of aliens.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
In the Old Testament the rendering of the Hebrew word mamzer’, which means “polluted.” In Deut. 23:2, it occurs in the ordinary sense of illegitimate offspring. In Zech. 9:6, the word is used in the sense of foreigner. From the history of Jephthah we learn that there were bastard offspring among the Jews (Judg. 11:1-7). In Heb. 12:8, the word (Gr. nothoi) is used in its ordinary sense, and denotes those who do not share the privileges of God’s children.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Among those who were excluded from entering the congregation, even to the tenth generation, was the bastard. (23:2) The term is not, however, applied to any illegitimate offspring, born out of wedlock, but is restricted by the rabbins to the issue of any connection within the degrees prohibited by the law.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bas'-tard (mamzer; nothos): In De 23:2 probably the offspring of an incestuous union, or of a marriage within the prohibited degrees of affinity (Le 18:6-20; 20:10-21). He and his descendants to the tenth generation are excluded from the assembly of the Lord. (See Driver, at the place). Zechariah (Zec 9:6), after prophesying the overthrow of three Philistine cities, declares of the fourth: "And a bastard (the Revised Version, margin "a bastard race") shall dwell in Ashdod," meaning probably that a "mixed population" (BDB) of aliens shall invade and settle in the capital of the Philistines. In Heb (He 12:8) in its proper sense of "born out of wedlock," and therefore not admitted to the privileges of paternal care and responsibility as a legitimate son.</p><p>T. Ress</p>
