The Hebrew adjective nokriy means foreign, alien, strange, or from another country. It describes a person, thing, or concept that is outside the covenant community of Israel — someone who does not belong to the family of God's chosen people. The word carries stronger connotations of otherness than the related term ger (sojourner), implying a more permanent outsider status.
In the Old Testament, nokriy functions in several important theological contexts. Foreign gods are called nokriy — they are alien to Israel's covenant faith. Foreign women who lead Israel into idolatry are a recurring theme of warning (1 Kings 11). Yet remarkably, the foreigner is also included in God's expansive vision for the temple as a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:6-7). Solomon's prayer at the temple's dedication includes the foreigner who comes to pray. This tension reveals God's heart — while Israel must guard against syncretism, the ultimate purpose of election is to bless all peoples.