God-Worshipers Supporting the Temple

In antiquity, some gentiles attached themselves to Judaism by worshiping in synagogues and observing some laws and traditions, even as they retained a non-Jewish identity. In this passage, Josephus distinguishes Jews from “those who worship God,” or God-worshipers (Greek: theosebeis, sebomenoi). Depending on context, the term God-fearers (Greek: phoboumenoi, Latin: metuentes, or Hebrew: yir’ei shamayim) can be applied to Jews or gentiles. When referring to gentiles, it may connote a gentile who has affiliated to some degree with Jewish observance and tradition. (See also Philo’s definition of the “sojourner” and Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael’s distinction between God-fearers and proselytes.)