Deuteronomy 23:7
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This verse highlights that kindness shouldn't be erased by later mistreatment; the Edomites, as relatives, and the Egyptians, who initially offered refuge, deserved remembrance of past favors, not hatred, even after hardships. It's a powerful reminder that even those who hurt us might have a history of kindness that God calls us to recall.
“You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage appears in the midst of laws detailing who is permitted and forbidden from entering the assembly of the Lord, distinguishing between nations based on their past actions towards Israel. While Moabites and Ammonites are permanently excluded due to their hostility, Edomites and Egyptians are treated differently, with their descendants eventually allowed full inclusion. The verse emphasizes remembering past kindnesses and familial ties, even when contrasted with later mistreatment.
Why would God tell His people to be kind to the Edomites and Egyptians, especially after everything they went through?
This verse is a powerful reminder of God's perspective on human relationships and historical memory.
The Edomite Bond
God instructs Israel not to abhor the Edomites because 'he is your brother.' This points to their shared ancestry through Isaac, Jacob's twin brother Esau. Even though Edom often acted hostilely towards Israel, this fundamental familial connection was to be remembered. It's a call to see beyond immediate conflict to the deeper ties God established.
The Egyptian Debt
Similarly, Israel was not to abhor the Egyptians because they had once been 'strangers in his land.' The Israelites had been welcomed into Egypt during a famine, finding refuge and provision. While their subsequent enslavement was brutal, God commanded them to remember the initial act of kindness.
This dual command highlights God's value for loyalty and His expectation that His people would honor both deep-seated relationships and past acts of grace, even when met with later mistreatment. It's a divine blueprint for remembering good deeds and acknowledging kinship.
In a world that often screams for retribution, why would God command His people to hold back from intense hatred?
Deuteronomy 23:7 sets a remarkably high bar for Israel, contrasting sharply with typical human responses to betrayal and suffering.
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Forgiving Past Wrongs
The Edomites had denied Israel passage and even threatened them militarily, while the Egyptians had subjected them to brutal slavery. Logically, these nations would be prime candidates for intense hatred and exclusion. Yet, God explicitly forbids abhorrence.
Remembering God's Mercy
This command functions as a powerful lesson in grace and restraint. It teaches Israel to look beyond immediate grievances and remember the foundational kindnesses and the fundamental brotherhood established by God. It's a practical application of not letting one wrong overshadow numerous past mercies.
This isn't about condoning evil, but about cultivating a disposition that doesn't allow bitterness to consume, reflecting God's own patient and merciful character towards humanity.
Understand the original words
tate'eb · Hebrew Verb
A strong emotional reaction of intense dislike, hatred, or loathing. In a biblical context, it often refers to a profound moral or spiritual repulsion toward someone or something.
ger · Hebrew Noun
A temporary resident, stranger, or foreigner living in a land not their own. It signifies one who lacks the full rights of a native-born citizen and is often subject to the laws and conditions of the host nation.
This passage describes the birth of Esau and Jacob as twins, directly explaining the 'brother' relationship mentioned in Deuteronomy 23:7 between Israelites and Edomites.
Genesis 47:1-6This passage details how Jacob and his family were initially welcomed and given land in Egypt during a famine, providing the historical context for why Egyptians should not be abhorred despite later enslavement.
Exodus 1:8-14This passage highlights the later harsh oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, offering a contrast to the earlier kindness and underscoring God's command to remember the good despite the bad.
Numbers 20:14-21This passage recounts the Edomites refusing passage to the Israelites, showing a national conflict that makes the command in Deuteronomy 23:7 to not abhor them even more significant.
Romans 12:17-21This passage offers a New Testament parallel, urging believers not to repay evil for evil but to overcome evil with good, echoing the spirit of remembering kindness and showing grace towards former adversaries.
gillDeuteronomy 23:7: "Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land."
Thou shall not abhor an Edomite,.... Or an Idumean, the descendants of Esau, whose name was Edom, Genesis 25:30 the Targum of Jonathan adds, "that comes to be made a proselyte"; he was not to be rejected with abhorrence, because of the old grudge between Jacob and Esau, and which was become national in their posterity: for he is thy brother; the…
pooleDeuteronomy 23:7: "Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land."
An Edomite; the children of Edom; only the Amalekites are excepted by God’s particular order, and upon special reason, Deu 25:17-19 . Thy brother, by Esau, Jacob’s brother. Thou wast a stranger in his land, and didst receive habitation, protection, and provision from them a long time, which kindness thou must not forget for their following perse…
This verse highlights that kindness shouldn't be erased by later mistreatment; the Edomites, as relatives, and the Egyptians, who initially offered refuge, deserved remembrance of past favors, not hatred, even after hardships. It's a powerful reminder that even those who hurt us might have a history of kindness that God calls us to recall.
This passage appears in the midst of laws detailing who is permitted and forbidden from entering the assembly of the Lord, distinguishing between nations based on their past actions towards Israel. While Moabites and Ammonites are permanently excluded due to their hostility, Edomites and Egyptians are treated differently, with their descendants eventually allowed full inclusion. The verse emphasizes remembering past kindnesses and familial ties, even when contrasted with later mistreatment.
This passage appears in the midst of laws detailing who is permitted and forbidden from entering the assembly of the Lord, distinguishing between nations based on their past actions towards Israel. While Moabites and Ammonites are permanently excluded due to their hostility, Edomites and Egyptians are treated differently, with their descendants eventually allowed full inclusion. The verse emphasizes remembering past kindnesses and familial ties, even when contrasted with later mistreatment.
"“You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land." — This verse highlights that kindness shouldn't be erased by later mistreatment; the Edomites, as relatives, and the Egyptians, who initially offered refuge, deserved remembrance of past favors, not ha…
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Last reviewed October 2026
