Where did Gentiles Come From After the Flood?

Question from a Site Viewer

Who and Where did Gentiles Come From?

If Noah and his wife were Jewish and the wives of his sons were Jewish as well, how could any other race other than Jews be established?

Tim’s Answer

The division between Jews and Gentiles began with Jacob. Before Jacob, there were no Jews. Noah was not a Jew, nor were Abraham or Isaac. The term “Jew” refers to the descendants of Jacob.

In Genesis 32:28, God gave Jacob the new name of “Israel.” Throughout most of the Old Testament, the descendants of Jacob are known as the Israelites. After the reign of Solomon over the nation of Israel, the nation divided into two nations in 931 BC; one continued the name of Israel and the other became known as Judah, Jacob’s son, since Judah’s descendants made up the majority of this second country. Over time, many people from Israel came to live in the nation of Judah. In 722 BC, the nation of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians but the nation of Judah continued. By around 687 BC, the people of the nation of Judah were being called “Jehudi,” a Hebrew word that we translate as “Jew” (Jeremiah 34:9; Daniel 3:8, 12; 2 Kings 25:25). Because many of the twelve tribes of Israel had taken up residence in the country of Judah, the term included descendants of the other tribes. In the book of Esther, Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin, is called a Jew (Esther 2:5).

Because only those descended from Jacob are Jews, everyone else are considered Gentiles. Thus, the Arabs, who are descended from Abraham through Ishmael, are not Jews and would resist being called Jews. Other descendants of Shem, Noah’s son through whom Abraham came, also would be considered as Gentiles, as would all of the descendants of Ham and Japheth, Noah’s other two sons.

Jesus was a Jew, as were all of the twelve apostles. For those who believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, our connection to Christ, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, binds us into a family relationship and a close connection to the Jewish people. As Paul states in Romans 11:28, even when certain Jewish people resist Christ, they are still to be loved. Our prayer is that both Jews and Gentiles will come to understand the grace that Jesus brings to us.

where did gentiles come from?

24 thoughts on “Where did Gentiles Come From After the Flood?”

    1. Maybe you need to read your bible well in Genesis where japhet kids are called gentiles and remember Jesus said until the time of the gentiles be fullfilled dats European’s time of ruling from Greece to America/mystery Babylon

  1. When the split occurred, it was because the northern tribes refused to obey God and come to Jerusalem for the feast. Therefore they were scattered abroad and assimilated into the nations (Gentiles). Jesus said He came to seek and save that which was lost. In Matthew 15:24 He says, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This is referring to the ten tribes which scattered. Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were adopted into the tribes as the fullness of the Gentiles through Joseph by his father, Jacob. Because of this “adoption” anyone seeking to be grafted in by the blood can become part of Israel. Jesus is the vine into which we are grafted. It is so exciting to see that we who are not physical Israel, through Jesus, can become spiritual Israel. The story of the prodigal son is a picture of the tribes that were scattered and squandered their inheritance. Through returning and recognizing their sin, the Father restores to them what was lost.

    1. I understand I am gentile . I have been grafted into the blood line thru his blood .
      But I want to understand, because I am adopted was I from the tribe of Ishmael? From not the promised one ?

  2. The real question should be why was Japheth set apart and called a Gentile in the 1st place? What did he do that caused him to no longer be considered as a part of Gods chosen people, Hebrews?

  3. Hey, thank you so much! This has clarified so much and really helped me more than you will ever know.

    God bless

  4. Are you saying that being a Jew is just a name? It has nothing to do with blood? How come when we do DNA ancestry there is blood markers that say you are Jewish? I am so confused.

  5. Thank you so much for this! My hubby and I were discussing this as he is reading Genesis (and we know how daunting that it; he is also a new being in christ) and we got stuck on the “how” mankind all began and who Gentles descended from. This explanation made us so happy to learn. 🙂

  6. Not all of the sons of Jacob were Jews, they were all Hebrews but not Jews. The term Jew derived from Judah, Jacob’s son.
    The first time the term Jew in scripture is used is in 2nd Kings 16:6. It was a pet name given to the Judeans when the king of Syria drove them out of the city they lived in, Elath.

    Jew is not a bloodline; it is a family name or geographical term.

    The apostille Paul was a descendant of Jacob, but he was not a Jew, he was a Hebrew, and he was of the tribe of Benjamin, a Benjamite. Also, a Roman through his father.

    Ishmael’s sons, the Arabs, were half Hebrew and half Egyptian from Abraham and Hagar.

    Mary, the mother of Christ is from the tribe of Judah (her father) and Levite. (Her mother) Which gives Christ both the King line and the Priest line.

  7. Thank you for your comments and questions. I have believed in Christ all my life but I back slid so far. I did feel empty inside. I don’t believe in religion anymore but I do believe in the savior Christ Jesus, who saved and brought me back and is calling me to learn. The understanding is coming also. That I don’t want to just read the 66 books but search for everything so I can tell everyone truthfully and my life experiences. Jesus can call anyone even someone like me. Love one another and show it. Love Our Father with all our hearts, his spirit will bring you out of the darkest of places. I’m praying for the world and pray for his return but I want everyone to have the chances I have had to get back to Jesus.

  8. Excellent research and well written!!
    I like the references so one can read the
    Bible sources that you quote.

    It’s not often that somebody like who is obviously an excellent writer spends his own time to put something together like this.

    Thank you.

    Ross Brady

  9. Don’t get stuck on bloodline and pasts (hobby interests) – if you believe in Jesus Christ and are saved through His blood you are within Christ no matter your familial background. We are all the “salt of the earth” to keep the evil at bay – to uphold Christ’s commandments and spread the message of His everlasting Love – to be “fisher’s of men (including women, & children)”- until the day or hour of His return at the fulfillment of scripture.

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