Why is גוי a preferred word than נוכרי to describe a non Jew?

Question

It might be a cultural question rather than a religious one: but גוי is used to describe a nation (including the nation of Israel), גר is used to describe a Non Jew living is Israel and נכרי is used to describe a non Jew.

Yet it seems as if the term גוי is the preferred term to describe a non Jew, why is that? (At least true in Yiddish and modern Hebrew)

https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/47762/akum-nochri-and-goy — rosends, Feb 10 '21 at 19:35
Goy is a term of honor. Think about G-d’s blessing to Avraham. Nochri doesn’t have that connotation. — Yaacov Deane, Feb 10 '21 at 22:52
@Alex so the origin of this ברכה, is the first significant mentioning of the word ״גוי״ in such a definition ? — Isaac Brenig, Feb 10 '21 at 23:56

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 10 '21 at 22:51

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"Goy" has acquired a negative connotation only in modern times. Nokhri (נָכְרִ) may also have a negative connotation. It can be used for “enemy” [Deut. 32:27], “stranger who speaks harshly” [Gen. 42:7], “outsider” (בֶּן־נֵכָ֔ר -- ben nekhar) [Gen 17:12], “alien gods” [אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַנֵּכָר֙ – elohei hanekhar] [Gen. 35:2] but also to harmless refugees, laborers, visitors or businessmen. I prefer just "non-Jew" myself.

answered Feb 10 '21 at 22:51

Maurice Mizrahi

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So too Rabbi Yosef Karo who used אינו יהודי in the Shulchan Aruch. – Harel13 Feb 10 '21 at 23:13
@Harel13, did he often? The Mishna Brura changed גוי and עכו"ם of previous editions to אינו יהודי. – Mordechai Feb 21 '21 at 22:10
@Mordechai That's what I remember from when I learned Hilchot Shabbat last year. – Harel13 Feb 22 '21 at 11:26

Why is גוי a preferred word than נוכרי to describe a non Jew?

1 Answers1