Name Old Testament Rare
Goiim
גּוֹיִם
Goiim (Hebrew: גּוֹיִם) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. It appears in 3 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Amraphel in Genesis 14.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Goiim
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 3 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 14:1 |
| Last appears | Joshua 12:23 |
| Cross-references | 35 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Tidal co-occurrence Appears with Tidal in Genesis 14.
- Arioch co-occurrence Appears with Arioch in Genesis 14.
- Amraphel co-occurrence Appears with Amraphel in Genesis 14.
- Chedorlaomer co-occurrence Appears with Chedorlaomer in Genesis 14.
- Arba co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Arba.
- Aner co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Aner.
- Birsha co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Birsha.
- Eshcol co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Eshcol.
Origin & meaning
Tidal, king of Goiim (nations), was one of the kings who fought against Chedorlaomer in Genesis 14.
The biblical story
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.
Key verses
Goiim appears in 3 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;
Genesis 14:1 -
With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.
Genesis 14:9 -
The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
Joshua 12:23
Show all 3 references
Genesis (2)
- Genesis 14:1
- Genesis 14:9
Joshua (1)
- Joshua 12:23