The Evolution of the Goy: From “Holy Nation” to “Gentile”

With Prof. Ishay Rosen-Zvi

March 5, 2026

Prof. Ishay Rosen-Zvi explores the history of the word “goy”, from its biblical meaning as “nation” to its later role as a boundary between Jews and non-Jews.

About This Episode

In this conversation, Alex Tseitlin speaks with Prof. Ishay Rosen-Zvi about the long and complex history of one of the most charged words in Jewish tradition: “goy”.

The discussion begins with the Bible, where “goy” simply means a people or nation, and where Israel itself can be described as a “holy nation”. From there, the conversation follows the word through Second Temple Judaism, the Septuagint, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Paul and rabbinic literature.

The central question is how a term that once described many nations, including Israel, became a singular category for the non-Jew. Prof. Rosen-Zvi explains this as a shift from a world of multiple peoples, identities and gradations into a sharper binary distinction between Israel and the nations.

Key Points

• In the Bible, "goy" originally means a nation or people, not necessarily a non-Jew.
• Israel itself could be described as a "holy nation" (goy kadosh).
• Later Jewish texts gradually created a stronger distinction between Israel and the other nations.
• The Septuagint, Second Temple literature, the Dead Sea Scrolls and Paul all played roles in reshaping the concept.
• Rabbinic literature turned a complex spectrum of identities into a clearer binary: Israel and the nations.
• The conversation covers conversion, Samaritans, God-fearers and the question of who is considered inside or outside the community.
• Concepts that feel ancient and obvious often have a historical development that shaped them.