Outcast
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Outcast in the Bible?
An outcast is an individual excluded from societal membership, a status often associated with degradation or exile. In Jeremiah 30:17, the term specifically describes the act of being thrust out of the community.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the concept of the outcast illuminates the profound severity of social ostracism in ancient Israel, where exclusion served as a critical mechanism for enforcing cultural and legal boundaries within the community.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Outcast. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Outcast in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Outcast clarify?
Scripture Passages Mentioned:
Jeremiah 30:17
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Outcast." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/outcast/