Foreigners

Foreigners, called strangers or sojourners in many translations, are named often in the Law and the Prophets. This page lists verses on loving the stranger, one law for all, provision and justice for strangers, foreigners joining God's people, and God's people as strangers.

Loving the stranger

• Leviticus 19:33-34
  ³³And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. ³⁴But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
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• Deuteronomy 10:18-19
  ¹⁸He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. ¹⁹Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
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• Exodus 22:21
  Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
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• Exodus 23:9
  Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
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• Matthew 25:35
  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
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One law for all

• Exodus 12:49
  One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
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• Leviticus 24:22
  Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God.
  Show context · Read Leviticus 24 →
• Numbers 15:15-16
  ¹⁵One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. ¹⁶One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
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Provision for strangers

• Deuteronomy 24:19
  When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.
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• Leviticus 23:22
  And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
  Show context · Read Leviticus 23 →
• Deuteronomy 14:28-29
  ²⁸At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: ²⁹And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
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Justice for strangers

• Deuteronomy 24:17
  Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge:
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• Deuteronomy 27:19
  Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
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• Jeremiah 7:6
  If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:
  Show context · Read Jeremiah 7 →
• Malachi 3:5
  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.
  Show context · Read Malachi 3 →

Foreigners joining God's people

• Ruth 1:16
  And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
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• 1 Kings 8:41-43
  ⁴¹Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake; ⁴²(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; ⁴³Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.
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• Isaiah 56:6-7
  ⁶Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; ⁷Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
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• Ephesians 2:19
  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
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God's people as strangers

• Psalm 39:12
  Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
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• Hebrews 11:13
  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
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• 1 Peter 2:11
  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 2 →

See also

• Hospitality
• Racism
• Justice

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.