What are the Nations in the Bible?

In biblical terms, “nations” refers to all the people groups of the world who are not part of the nation of Israel. In other words, the nations are the peoples outside of Israel, often referred to as “Gentiles” or “the Gentile world.”

When God began His plan to restore the relationship with mankind, which was lost since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He started with just one nation, Israel. This nation began with a man named Abraham, who was the father of Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob (also called Israel) had twelve sons. These sons became the twelve tribes of Israel, and through them, Israel grew into a large nation.

The people outside of Israel, those who were not descendants of Abraham, are referred to as the “nations” (Gentiles). The Bible mentions various people groups like the Egyptians (now modern-day Egypt), the Assyrians (modern-day Syria), the Cushites (located in Africa), the Chaldeans (modern-day Iraq), the people of India, the Persians and Medes (now in parts of Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia), the Romans (modern Italy), the Greeks (modern Greece), and many others. All of these were considered as the nations or Gentiles.

For over 1,500 years, God interacted primarily with Israel alone. He did not engage directly with the other nations, regardless of their advancements or moral standing. The Ten Commandments were given to Israel, not to the nations. The entire Old Testament primarily focuses on the history and conduct of the people of Israel, their covenant with God, and their relationship with Him.

However, it’s not that God had no plan for the nations; rather, His plan for the nations was always in the future. Just like a mother who must give birth to her firstborn child before she can have others, Israel was considered God’s “firstborn” nation. In this way, God first focused on Israel, but He always intended to bring salvation to the Gentiles as well, just not until the right time.

In Exodus 4:22, God refers to Israel as His “firstborn” son:
“Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son.” (NIV)

But when the time came for the “secondborn” (the Gentiles) to be born into God’s kingdom, God began His plan for their salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came as the Savior not just for Israel, but for the entire world. The shift from Israel as God’s chosen people to the inclusion of the Gentiles marked a pivotal moment in God’s redemptive plan.

Paul writes in Romans 11:25, explaining that the hardening of Israel would continue until the full number of the Gentiles had come to salvation:
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” (NIV)

From the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection to today, the door of salvation has been open to all nations. Anyone, Jew or Gentile, can come to God through faith in Jesus Christ and be part of the spiritual blessings once reserved for Israel.

This concept of Gentiles being included in God’s promises was a mystery revealed in the New Testament. Paul explains this mystery in Ephesians 3:4-6:
“In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Through Jesus, God has opened the door of grace to all nations. The Gentiles, once considered outsiders, are now fellow heirs of God’s promises, having been grafted into the family of God through faith in Christ.

However, this period of grace for the Gentiles will not last forever. Paul also warns that the time is coming when the Gentile era will end with the rapture, and God will once again turn His attention to Israel, fulfilling His promises to them. The “fullness of the Gentiles” will be reached, and Israel will be restored in the last days.

Jesus’ second coming will be followed by a period of judgment for the nations, and then the establishment of His millennial kingdom. This time of peace and righteousness will last for a thousand years, where Jesus will reign over the earth.

The urgency of this truth is clear. If you have not received Christ yet, now is the time to do so, because the period of grace is quickly coming to an end. If you are still outside of God’s grace, you are among the Gentiles, but you can be brought into the family of God through Jesus Christ.

As it says in 2 Corinthians 6:2:
“For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (NIV)