Definition: The term "alienator" appears in a number of Old Testament texts, but its precise meaning has not been fully established. Here's an interpretation based on various passages: - In Deuteronomy 32:8 (ESV), the phrase "You shall be called [a] man, and you shall be called Ishmael" is used to describe a situation in which people are treated as though they were aliens by their fellow Israelites. - In Deuteronomy 41:27, it's mentioned that a "man who is not an alien of the land" should be considered a foreigner and given special rights. This suggests that those with "alienated" children might be entitled to more rights or privileges than others. There are also passages from the New Testament where this concept plays out, but these seem less clear-cut due to their historical contexts and potential interpretations. The Hebrew word for "alienator" is "malkhaddi". It's a term used by ancient Israelites in reference to being treated as an outsider or foreigner. In this context, it could refer to individuals who had been enslaved by Israelites (as described in Deuteronomy 32:8) or were born into slavery and were thus considered alien. The meaning of "alienator" has often been interpreted based on its historical and cultural contexts, rather than being fixed and universally understood in any one text. Its usage likely reflects a complex interplay between the political, social, and religious roles that people had to navigate during the times it was used.

alienator