It is more densely used in the latter prophets than in the former by a factor of 8.
This stem גוי, goi, occurs in the Hebrew text 561 times in 23 distinct word forms. In my reading it is always rendered as nation, a word derived from the idea of native, i.e. where you were born. There are 49 occurrences (0. 07% of the words) in the former prophets (just under one fifth of the Bible). And in the later ones (just over one fifth of the Bible), there are 319 occurrences (0.55% of the words).
What would happen if we looked at other stems? Here's the density of דרך way. Malachi sticks out as do Ezekiel and Job. Leviticus and Qohelet hardly use it at all. There are 769 instances in the Bible in 83 differing word forms (i.e with appendages of articles, prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, and as both verb and noun).
Usage density of דרך in the books of the Hebrew canon |
In Job I am more consistent but it is a very flexible word. Here is usage in verse 19.
Job 40:15-19 Behemoth |
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