Goiim גּוֹיִם
A king of Goyim who fought against Chedorlaomer.
Who is Goiim in the Bible?
Goiim, meaning "nations," refers to a kingdom or confederation of peoples ruled by King Tidal in the ancient Near East. In Genesis 14:1 and 14:9, Tidal, king of Goiim, is mentioned as one of four kings who fought against Chedorlaomer and his allies during the Battle of the Vale of Siddim, where they initially defeated the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. The exact location of Goiim remains uncertain, though scholars sometimes identify it with Gutium, a region in northern Mesopotamia. Joshua 12:23 also references a king of Goiim in Gilgal who was among the rulers defeated during Israel's conquest of Canaan. Goiim's appearance in these accounts illustrates the complex geopolitical landscape of the ancient world and the conflicts that shaped early biblical history.
Biography
Goiim, meaning "nations," appears in the Bible as a place name or a title. In Gen.14.1 and Gen.14.9, Tidal is mentioned as the king of Goiim (also spelled Goyim). He was one of the four kings who fought against Chedorlaomer and his allies in the Battle of the Vale of Siddim. The exact location of Goiim is uncertain, but it is thought to refer to a region or a confederation of peoples, rather than a specific city or nation. In Jos.12.23, the king of Goiim in Gilgal is listed among the kings defeated by Joshua during the conquest of Canaan. This suggests that Goiim may have been a region or a group of people living in the area of Gilgal.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 14:1
"In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim"
Study Genesis → - Genesis 14:9
"against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five."
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Joshua 1 verse
- Joshua 12:23
"the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Hebrew | גּוֹיִם |
Goiim
e 14:1 where the King James Version has "Tidal, king of nations," the Revised Version (British and American) retains in the text the Hebrew "Goiim" as a proper name. Some identify with Gutium. The Hebrew word is similarly retained in Jos 12:23.
go'-ing, go'-ingz: Besides, occasionally, forms of the common words for "go" (see Go), for "going" and "goings," the Hebrew has 'ashshur ('ashur, 'ashur), "step," motsa', totsa'oth, "goings out," "outgoings." Th