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Yes, but Jesus spoke in Aramaic (a language related to Hebrew), not Greek. He would not have said "gentile." The word Jews use that is translated as gentile is "goy," which refers to the nations descended from Noah, as listed in Genesis.

When I interrogate Strong's about the source of "gentile" in Matthew 10:5,6 it gives me this:

HEBREW:

01484 gowr {gore} or (fem.) gorah {go-raw'}

a variation of 01482; TWOT - 331a; n m

AV - whelp 2; 2

1) whelp

Strongs lists two references to the root Hebrew word for "gentile":

Jer 51:38 They shall roar [07580] (8799) together [03162] like lions [03715]: they shall yell [05286] (8804) as lions [0738]' whelps [01484].

Nah 2:12 The lion [0738] did tear in pieces [02963] (8802) enough [01767] for his whelps [01484], and strangled [02614] (8764) for his lionesses [03833], and filled [04390] (8762) his holes [02356] with prey [02964], and his dens [04585] with ravin [02966].

GREEK:

1484 ethnos {eth'-nos}

probably from 1486; TDNT - 2:364,201; n n

AV - Gentiles 93, nation 64, heathen 5, people 2; 164

1) a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
1a) a company, troop, swarm
2) a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
2a) the human family
3) a tribe, nation, people group
4) in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans,Gentiles
5) Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians

Strongs lists 164 references to the root Greek word for "gentile", Matthew 10:5,6 included. I don't see any references to the root being "not being descended from Noah". But, in any case, not being descended from Noah wouldn't mean much, would it? All the Semites, including Jacob were descended from Shem which includes all those who claim the covenant of Abraham. Noah had two other sons, Ham and Japheth, whose descendents don't claim that covenant.

It could mean that. It could also mean those who have lost faith.

I guess "go unto the Lost Sheep of The House of Israel", could mean that, if one were to ignore the plain wording. There was the House of Judah, which was there, in the area, and the House of Israel, which was dispersed by the Assyrians.

All were Israelites. It seems to take quite a bit of labor to interpret it the way you suggest, and very little to interpret it as refering to the lost House of Israel.

I don't see any references to the root being "not being descended from Noah".

I did not say "not being descended from Noah." Just the opposite. "Goyim" (gentiles) are the nations descended from Noah, as listed in Genesis 10. The word literally means nation. It is used by Jews to refer to other nations, ie. nations other than Israel.

Another way of saying gentile in Hebrew is "ben noach" (son of Noah).

Getting back to the point, the contention that the lost tribes of Israel, if they could be found, would be gentile from a Jewish perspective is false. From a Jewish perspective, they are part of Israel.