– It is the name commonly given to the dispersion of Jews to other lands. But it can also mean the dispersion of a people or group, fleeing from a place because of political, religious or racial persecution:
Gen 9:1 : God blessed Noah and his sons: “Be fruitful”, he told them, “multiply and replenish the earth”.
Gn 11,7-8 : Let’s go: let’s go down to confuse their language, so that they no longer understand each other.
Leviticus 26:33 : I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out a sword after you.
Deut 28,64-65 : The Lord will disperse you among all nations.
2Kings 17:6-12 : In the ninth year of Hosea’s reign, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites.
Ez 22,14-15 : I will scatter you among the nations, I will scatter you among the peoples.
– In the OT it also has the missionary character of bringing the wonders of Yahweh to other peoples:
Tob 13,3-16 : For if he has scattered you among peoples that do not know him.
Wis 18,4 : But they well deserved to be deprived of light and imprisoned in darkness.
Is 56,1-8 : I will lead them to my holy mountain and fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
– In the NT, the dispersion of Christians because of persecution is God’s instrument to bring the Gospel to the pagans:
Acts 2,9-11 : We heard them publishing in our languages the marvels of God!
Acts 8:1 : All were dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, with the exception of the apostles.
Acts 11:19 : However, those who were scattered by the persecution that took place in Stephen’s time.
