barbarian

A term originally referring to one who spoke a foreign language. Herodotus, the Greek historian who lived in the fifth century BCE, called Egyptians “barbarians,” i.e., alien speakers. (1Cor 14:11) and (Ps 113:1) carry the same nuance. From “alien tongue,” barbarian came to mean “alien race, region, or people,” i.e., non-Greeks – see, e.g., (Acts 28:2); (Acts 28:4). Used pejoratively, “barbarian” demeaned those lacking Hellenistic culture as crude, coarse, boorish, savage, or bestial (2Macc 4:25); (2Macc 15:2). Somewhat milder is Paul’s reference to “barbarians” as “foolish” (Rom 1:14).