Easton's Bible Dictionary: M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.
In the Old Testament the rendering of the Hebrew word mamzer', which means "polluted." In Dt. 23:2, it occurs in the ordinary sense of illegitimate offspring. In Zech. 9:6, the word is used in the sense of foreigner. From the history of Jephthah we learn that there were bastard offspring among the Jews (Judg. 11:1-7). In Heb. 12:8, the word (Gr.nothoi) is used in its ordinary sense, and denotes those who do not share the privileges of God's children.