Exodus 22:21
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just say "don't hurt foreigners," it emphasizes that this protection stems from a shared, deeply ingrained memory of suffering. It’s a reminder that their own past vulnerability in Egypt should fuel a visceral empathy, not just a detached sense of fairness, towards those in similar situations.
This verse is part of a collection of laws detailing how the Israelites were to live justly and compassionately. Immediately preceding this are laws about restitution for stolen goods and damages, while the following verses address the protection of widows and orphans. The emphasis here is on how the recently liberated Israelites, having experienced profound oppression in Egypt, must now extend a unique tenderness and protection to foreigners living among them.
Imagine walking in someone else's shoes, feeling their vulnerability. This verse calls us to do just that.
God commands the Israelites not to wrong or oppress a 'sojourner' – a foreigner living among them. The reason given is profound: 'for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.' This isn't just a legal statute; it's a call to empathy rooted in shared history.
A Memory That Shapes Us
Having experienced hardship and oppression themselves, the Israelites were meant to remember those feelings. This memory was to cultivate a tender heart, not a hardened one. It's a powerful reminder that our past struggles aren't just scars; they can become the very tools God uses to teach us compassion and justice.
Beyond Legalism
This isn't merely about following rules; it's about understanding the heart behind the command. God wants His people to treat others as they themselves wished to be treated when they were vulnerable and without rights. The memory of Egypt was meant to transform their perspective and actions.
What does it truly mean to 'not wrong' someone? This verse unpacks layers of care that go beyond simply avoiding harm.
The Hebrew words translated as 'wrong' and 'oppress' point to more than just physical harm.
Active Injustice
'To wrong' (Hebrew: anah) can encompass inflicting hardship, injustice, or suffering. It suggests actively causing someone distress. 'To oppress' implies crushing or burdening someone, taking advantage of their vulnerability.
Compassion in Action
These commands weren't just about refraining from evil; they called for positive action and attitude. This meant:
Understand the original words
yānâ · Hebrew Verb
To treat unfairly, harm, or violate the rights of another. In a biblical context, it often refers to cheating, defrauding, or abusing those in a vulnerable position.
gēr · Hebrew Noun
A resident alien or foreigner living within the land who lacks the full legal rights and ancestral land ownership of the native-born citizens, often depending on the host community for protection.
lāḥaṣ · Hebrew Verb
To treat harshly, crush, or exploit someone, often through the misuse of power, authority, or economic advantage over those who are weaker.
This passage reiterates the command to not oppress or wrong a foreigner, directly linking it to the idea of loving them 'as yourselves,' emphasizing a shared humanity and the importance of compassion.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19Here, God's love for the sojourner is highlighted as the reason for Israel's command to love and provide for them, further underscoring the ethical imperative rooted in divine example and their own history.
Ezekiel 22:7This verse serves as a prophetic indictment where oppression of the sojourner is listed among the serious sins of Israel, demonstrating the gravity with which God views mistreatment of vulnerable foreigners.
Matthew 7:12Jesus' teaching of the Golden Rule, 'Do to others what you would have them do to you,' provides a timeless summary of the principle found in Exodus, urging empathy and fair treatment towards all, including strangers.
bensonExodus 22:21: "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Exodus 22:21 . A stranger must not be abused, not wronged in judgment by the magistrates, not imposed upon in contracts, nor any advantage taken of his ignorance or necessity, no, nor must he be taunted, or upbraided with his being a stranger; for all these were vexatious. For ye were strangers in Egypt — And knew what it was to be vexed and oppressed there. Those that have themselves…
pulpitExodus 22:21: "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Verse 21. - Law against oppression of foreigners. It may be doubted whether such a law as this was ever made in any other country. Foreigners are generally looked upon as "fair game," whom the natives of a country may ridicule and annoy at their pleasure. Native politeness gives them an exceptional position in France; but elsewhere it is the general rule to "vex" them. The Mosaic legi…
The verse doesn't just say "don't hurt foreigners," it emphasizes that this protection stems from a shared, deeply ingrained memory of suffering. It’s a reminder that their own past vulnerability in Egypt should fuel a visceral empathy, not just a detached sense of fairness, towards those in similar situations.
This verse is part of a collection of laws detailing how the Israelites were to live justly and compassionately. Immediately preceding this are laws about restitution for stolen goods and damages, while the following verses address the protection of widows and orphans. The emphasis here is on how the recently liberated Israelites, having experienced profound oppression in Egypt, must now extend a unique tenderness and protection to foreigners living among them.
This verse is part of a collection of laws detailing how the Israelites were to live justly and compassionately. Immediately preceding this are laws about restitution for stolen goods and damages, while the following verses address the protection of widows and orphans. The emphasis here is on how the recently liberated Israelites, having experienced profound oppression in Egypt, must now extend a unique tenderness and protection to foreigners living among them.
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This is a call to a deep-seated empathy that actively seeks the well-being of the vulnerable.
"“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." — The verse doesn't just say "don't hurt foreigners," it emphasizes that this protection stems from a shared, deeply ingrained memory of suffering. It’s a reminder that their own past vulnerability in…
