ξένος (xenos)
xenos
foreign
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective xenos describes something foreign, alien, or strange. In the New Testament it often modifies nouns like "teachings" to signal ideas that are unfamiliar or outside the community’s tradition (Hebrews 13:9). It can also describe events as unusual or unexpected, such as Peter’s reaction to trials in 1 Peter 4:12.
When used as a noun, xenos refers to a stranger or foreigner. This identity carries significant weight in passages like Ephesians 2:19, where believers are contrasted with those who remain "strangers and aliens" without citizenship in God’s household. The term also appears in the parable of the sheep and goats, where welcoming the xenos is a key marker of righteous living (Matthew 25:35).
Interestingly, the word can also denote the host or one who receives guests, highlighting the reciprocal nature of ancient hospitality. Romans 16:23 uses it to describe Phoeus as a "host" to Paul and others, showing that xenos encompasses both the outsider and the one who opens their home. This dual usage underscores the social importance of treating strangers with dignity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word xenos captures the feeling of being an outsider or someone unfamiliar with local customs. In ancient times, this status could mean vulnerability, but it also created a unique opportunity for community to show kindness. When we encounter people who seem different from us, we have a chance to extend the same welcome that Christ offers to all.
For believers, this concept shifts from exclusion to inclusion. Ephesians reminds us that through faith, we are no longer strangers but members of God’s family. This truth invites us to look at our own communities with fresh eyes, recognizing that everyone deserves dignity and care regardless of their background or status.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- strangers4×
- a stranger4×
- strangers.1×
- strangers,1×
- strange1×
- host1×
- a strange thing1×
- Of foreign1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ξένοι4×
- ξένος3×
- ξένον2×
- ξένων1×
- ξένους,1×
- ξένου1×
- ξένοις.1×
- ξέναις1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 2:19
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God,
This verse marks a pivotal identity shift, declaring that believers have moved from being outsiders to full citizens within God's household.
-
Matthew 25:35
for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.
Jesus identifies himself directly with the stranger, making hospitality toward the unfamiliar a central test of genuine faith.
-
Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
The faithful ancestors viewed their earthly lives through this lens, acknowledging they were temporary residents rather than permanent owners of the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does xenos mean in the New Testament?
How is xenos different from other words for stranger?
Why does Paul use this word in Ephesians?
Every Occurrence (14 verses across 7 books)
Matthew 5 verses
for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.
Matthew 25:38When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?
Matthew 25:43I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit…
Matthew 25:44“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick,…
Matthew 27:7They took counsel, and bought the potter’s field with them to bury strangers in.