Heathen – Dwellers on the heath, inhabiting uncultivated land.
God used the word “Heath” twice in Scripture. A heath is a plant in the desert that inhabits the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land that is not inhabited. (Jeremiah 17:6)
God used the word “Heathen” 150 times in Scripture: 143 times to Israel in the Masoretic Text Old Testament; twice to Israel in the Koine Greek Old Testament; and 4 times to the Body of Christ.
God’s use of “heathen” is a reference to gentiles living outside of the commonwealth of Israel, in uncultivated areas of wasteland; most likely nomadic people. The word is used in the sense that is similar to what we would call “hillbillies”.
One of the notable attributes of a heathen is that they are without the God of Israel. According to Scripture, they worship their own gods, have their own religious customs, rituals, traditions, beliefs, artifacts, sanctuaries, etc. In the Masoretic Text Old Testament, God had a plan to save the heathen. God is now administering that plan, in the Dispensation of Grace, via the Gospel of Grace.
The Christian Religions and belief systems have attached a negative connotation to this word, while in fact, according to Scripture, they are no better than the heathens. Acting contrary to Scripture, they have their own religious customs, rituals, traditions, beliefs, artifacts, sanctuaries, etc. And while ignoring Scripture, they claim to serve the God of Israel.
See also Christian, Gentile, Grecian, Hebrew, Jew, Proselyte