The term "native-born" in the Bible typically refers to individuals who are born within a particular land or nation, as opposed to foreigners or sojourners. This concept is significant in the context of the Israelites and their covenant relationship with God, as well as in the broader understanding of community and identity within the biblical narrative.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "native-born" is "ezrach" (אֶזְרָח). This term is used to distinguish those who are naturally part of the Israelite community from those who are not. For example, in Exodus 12:48-49, the Lord provides instructions regarding the Passover: "If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, all the males in his household must be circumcised; then he may take part like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you" . Here, the native-born are those who are inherently part of the covenant community through birth and adherence to the covenantal sign of circumcision.

The distinction between native-born Israelites and foreigners is also evident in the laws concerning the Sabbath and other religious observances. Leviticus 24:22 states, "You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native-born. I am the LORD your God" . This underscores the principle of equality before God's law, while still recognizing the unique status of the native-born within the covenant community.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not frequently use the term "native-born," the concept is implicitly present in discussions about identity and belonging within the people of God. The early church grappled with the inclusion of Gentiles, who were not native-born Israelites, into the covenant community. This is addressed in passages such as Acts 15, where the Jerusalem Council determines that Gentile believers do not need to adhere to all the traditional Jewish laws to be part of the church.

Paul's writings further expand on this theme, emphasizing that in Christ, distinctions between Jew and Gentile, native-born and foreigner, are transcended. In Ephesians 2:19, Paul writes, "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household" . This reflects the New Testament understanding that faith in Christ creates a new identity that surpasses ethnic and national boundaries.

Theological Implications

The concept of being native-born in the biblical sense carries theological implications regarding identity, community, and the inclusivity of God's covenant. In the Old Testament, being native-born signified a natural inclusion in the covenant promises given to Abraham and his descendants. However, the laws also made provision for foreigners to become part of this community through adherence to the covenantal signs and laws.

In the New Testament, the focus shifts to a spiritual birthright through faith in Jesus Christ. The church is portrayed as a new community where all believers, regardless of their ethnic or national origin, are considered part of God's household. This reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 22:18).

The biblical narrative thus moves from a focus on physical descent and native birth to a broader understanding of spiritual kinship and inclusion in the family of God through faith.249. ezrach -- a native
... native. Word Origin from zarach Definition a native NASB Word Usage native
(14), native-born (2), tree in its native (1). bay tree ...
/hebrew/249.htm - 6k

I Think I have Offered Sufficient Proof Upon the Question of False ...
... A Sterculus, I suppose. But did the Romans, along with the native-born
inhabitants, afterwards adore also some who were never kings? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xxv i think i.htm

The Great Stone Face
... It so happened that a native-born son of the valley, many years before, had enlisted
as a soldier, and, after a great deal of hard fighting, had now become an ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the great stone face.htm

And There Was, Besides, a Most Beautiful, Blessed...
... And there was, besides, a most beautiful, blessed, native-born noble Irish [Scotta]
woman of adult age whom I baptized; and a few days later she had reason to ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 42 and there was.htm

Philip the Evangelist
... and there was murmuring going on because, as I have already said, a section of it
thought that their poor were unfairly dealt with by the native-born Jews in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/philip the evangelist 2.htm

David Appointing Solomon
... Joab commanded the native-born Israelites; Benaiah, the 'Cherethites and Pelethites,'
who are now generally regarded as foreign mercenaries. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/david appointing solomon.htm

The First victory for Dissent
... By the impetus of these conversions, within a generation, "the Episcopal Church
under a native born minister had penetrated every town, had effected lodgment ...
/.../chapter viii the first victory.htm

Regeneration
... that birth in this land was made a sine qua non, and it was definitely declared
that whatever men might do or be, unless they were native born subjects of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/regeneration.htm

Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
... No! upon native born American Republican citizens, although the fathers of these
very men declared to the whole world, while struggling to free themselves the ...
/.../an appeal to the christian women of the south/appeal to the christian women.htm

Appendix
... As a result, there was a rush, at first, of the native born, and, later, of large
numbers of immigrants, who swelled the population, to the cities. ...
/.../greene/the development of religious liberty in connecticut/appendix.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Native-born (16 Occurrences)
Native-born. Native, Native-born. Natives . Multi-Version Concordance
Native-born (16 Occurrences). Exodus 12:19 seven ...
/n/native-born.htm - 11k

Native (35 Occurrences)
... to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict
your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the ...
/n/native.htm - 19k

Foreigner (99 Occurrences)
... They enjoyed in many things equal rights with the native-born residents (Exodus
12:49; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 15:15; 35:15), but were not allowed to do ...
/f/foreigner.htm - 41k

Alien (102 Occurrences)
... to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict
your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the ...
/a/alien.htm - 39k

Blasphemes (6 Occurrences)
... the name of Yahweh, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall
certainly stone him: the foreigner as well as the native-born, when he ...
/b/blasphemes.htm - 8k

Aliens (53 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 18:26 You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall
not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger ...
/a/aliens.htm - 22k

Natives (6 Occurrences)

/n/natives.htm - 8k

Stranger (152 Occurrences)
... to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict
your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the ...
/s/stranger.htm - 57k

Homeborn (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HOME-BORN. hom'-born ('ezrach): A native-born
Hebrew, as contrasted with a foreigner of different blood. ...
/h/homeborn.htm - 8k

Home-born (14 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HOME-BORN. hom'-born ('ezrach): A native-born
Hebrew, as contrasted with a foreigner of different blood. ...
/h/home-born.htm - 11k

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