Meaning
Alien a foreigner, or person born in another country, and therefore not entitled to the rights and privileges of the country where he resides. Among the Hebrews there were two classes of aliens.
(1.) Those who were strangers generally, and who owned no landed property.
(2.) Strangers dwelling in another country without being naturalized (Lev 22:10; Ps 39:12).
Both of these classes were to enjoy, under certain conditions, the same rights as other citizens (Lev 19:33, 34; Deut 10:19). They might be naturalized and permitted to enter into the congregation of the Lord by submitting to circumcision and abandoning idolatry (Deut 23:3-8).
This term is used (Eph 2:12) to denote persons who have no interest in Christ.
