Leviticus 19:33-34
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This isn't just about being nice to foreigners; it's about actively not "vexing" them, which includes hurtful words and unfair treatment. This command shows that God cares deeply about how we treat those who are different, even compelling us to love them as ourselves because He knows the sting of being an outsider.
“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This command comes within a section of Leviticus detailing numerous laws about treating others justly and kindly, following the broader call to love your neighbor as yourself. It specifically addresses how the Israelites, now a people with their own land and laws, should treat foreigners living among them, a group often vulnerable to mistreatment and exploitation. The verses immediately following (Leviticus 19:34) directly connect this prohibition to the Israelites' own experience as strangers in Egypt, urging them to remember their past vulnerability and extend compassion.
When God talks about 'strangers,' who exactly is He referring to? It's not just about someone from a different country.
In Leviticus, the 'stranger' (Hebrew: 'ger') wasn't always an outsider who hadn't embraced Israelite faith.
Layers of Meaning
This broad definition shows God's heart is for all people, not just those who look, believe, or act exactly like us.
The command is simple: 'you shall not do him wrong.' But what does that really look like in practice?
The Hebrew word translated as 'vex' or 'do him wrong' carries a strong sense of causing distress, burdening, or oppressing.
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What 'Vexing' Looks Like
God's command isn't just a negative prohibition; it implies a positive call to ensure the stranger is treated justly and with dignity, reflecting His own character.
Understand the original words
ger · Hebrew Noun
A person who resides in a land not their own, often without full citizen rights; God commands His people to show them justice and compassion, mirroring His own care for the vulnerable.
ahab · Hebrew Verb
The active choice to demonstrate self-sacrificial commitment, affection, and care toward others, reflecting the character of God who first loved His people.
This passage establishes the foundational command not to oppress or vex the stranger, directly preceding the context of the Law being given and setting the stage for Leviticus 19.
Deuteronomy 10:19This verse reiterates the command to love the stranger, grounding it in God's own love for the Israelites when they were strangers in Egypt, providing a powerful 'why' behind the law.
Matthew 25:35Jesus extends the principle of caring for the vulnerable, stating 'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,' showing how hospitality to strangers is an act of love towards Him.
Hebrews 13:2This New Testament passage encourages believers to 'not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares,' highlighting the potential divine significance of welcoming outsiders.
1 Peter 4:9Peter urges believers to 'show hospitality to one another without grumbling,' a principle directly applicable to how they should treat strangers as well, emphasizing a willing and joyful spirit.
pooleLeviticus 19:33: "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him."
Either with opprobrious expressions, or grievous exactions.
ellicottLeviticus 19:33: "And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him."
(33) And if a stranger sojourn with thee. —The stranger, for whose benefit the legislators enacted so many humane and benign laws, and with regard to whom the book of Leviticus has laid down so many precepts, is one of non-Jewish origin, but who had joined the Jewish faith. He had, therefore, to undergo the rite of circumcision; he had to fast on the great Day of Atonement ( Leviticus 16:29 ); he had to s…
This isn't just about being nice to foreigners; it's about actively not "vexing" them, which includes hurtful words and unfair treatment. This command shows that God cares deeply about how we treat those who are different, even compelling us to love them as ourselves because He knows the sting of being an outsider.
This command comes within a section of Leviticus detailing numerous laws about treating others justly and kindly, following the broader call to love your neighbor as yourself. It specifically addresses how the Israelites, now a people with their own land and laws, should treat foreigners living among them, a group often vulnerable to mistreatment and exploitation. The verses immediately following (Leviticus 19:34) directly connect this prohibition to the Israelites' own experience as strangers in Egypt, urging them to remember their past vulnerability and extend compassion.
This command comes within a section of Leviticus detailing numerous laws about treating others justly and kindly, following the broader call to love your neighbor as yourself. It specifically addresses how the Israelites, now a people with their own land and laws, should treat foreigners living among them, a group often vulnerable to mistreatment and exploitation. The verses immediately following (Leviticus 19:34) directly connect this prohibition to the Israelites' own experience as strangers in Egypt, urging them to remember their past vulnerability and extend compassion.
"“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am…" — This isn't just about being nice to foreigners; it's about actively not "vexing" them, which includes hurtful words and unfair treatment. This command shows that God cares deeply about how we treat t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
