A Strange God

foreigner. Describes someone or something as strange or foreign.

The adjective typically means “strange,” whether “unfit” (Lev 10:1), “foreign” (outside the household: 1 Kgs 3:18; outside the clan: Deut 25:5; outside the nation: Isa 1:7; Jer 18:14), “unusual” (Isa 28:21), or even “offensive” (Job 19:17). It also denotes “not sacred,” whether “profane” (Deut 32:16) or “lay” (Exod 29:33). Proverbs often describes literal adultery as a man having relations with a strange (zār) woman—i.e., one who is not his wife (e.g., Prov 2:16; 5:20; 7:5). As elsewhere, this concept is then applied metaphorically: Idolatry is accepting a “strange” god (Psa 44:20; Isa 17:10; Jer 5:19; Ezek 16:32).

A very Strange God is Allah.

foreigner. Describes someone or something as strange or foreign.

זָר‎ (zār). adj. strange, stranger, foreigner. Describes someone or something as strange or foreign.

The adjective typically means “strange,” whether “unfit” (Lev 10:1), “foreign” (outside the household: 1 Kgs 3:18; outside the clan: Deut 25:5; outside the nation: Isa 1:7; Jer 18:14), “unusual” (Isa 28:21), or even “offensive” (Job 19:17). It also denotes “not sacred,” whether “profane” (Deut 32:16) or “lay” (Exod 29:33). Proverbs often describes literal adultery as a man having relations with a strange (zār) woman—i.e., one who is not his wife (e.g., Prov 2:16; 5:20; 7:5). As elsewhere, this concept is then applied metaphorically: Idolatry is accepting a “strange” god (Psa 44:20; Isa 17:10; Jer 5:19; Ezek 16:32).1

1 Gabrielson, T.A. (2014) “Adultery