Leviticus 19:34
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)
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The command to love the sojourner as yourself isn't just about avoiding mistreatment; it's about actively extending the same sense of belonging and value they have to the native-born. The reason given—"you were strangers in the land of Egypt"—isn't just a historical footnote, but a visceral reminder that their own liberation was rooted in God's compassion for the oppressed.
This command comes amidst a chapter detailing holiness and justice for the community, following instructions on honesty and fair treatment. It's a powerful extension of the "love your neighbor" principle, reminding the Israelites to extend compassion to those outside their nation. The verse immediately preceding it speaks of prohibiting sorcery and respecting the elderly, setting a tone of treating all people with dignity and divine reverence.
What does it truly mean to welcome someone who is different? This verse goes beyond mere tolerance.
The command to treat the "stranger who sojourns with you" as "the native among you" is radical. It means full inclusion, not just basic rights.
Beyond Tolerance
This isn't about grudgingly allowing someone to stay; it's about integrating them into the community as if they were born there. Think about what that means for belonging, for sharing resources, and for feeling truly at home.
A Universal Law
While some debated if this applied only to religious converts, the broader sense is that all strangers, regardless of their background, should be treated with this deep level of acceptance and equality. It's a foundational principle for a just society.
Why should we extend such radical inclusion? The reason given is both personal and divine.
The second part of the command, 'you shall love him as yourself,' is the heart of the matter. This isn't just a social policy; it's a commandment rooted in profound empathy.
Empathy from Experience
The reason provided is powerful: 'for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.' God reminds them of their own past vulnerability and hardship. This shared experience is meant to fuel compassion. When you've known what it's like to be an outsider, you're equipped to show grace to others in that same position.
God's Identity, Our Identity
The final phrase, 'I am the LORD your God,' links this command directly to God's own character. He is the one who showed kindness to them when they were strangers. By obeying this command, the Israelites reflect the very nature of their God, demonstrating that their identity as His people is shaped by His love.
Understand the original words
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.
Jesus expands on the command to love, challenging followers to love their enemies, which goes even further than loving strangers as neighbors.
Deuteronomy 10:19This passage reiterates the command to love the stranger, again grounding it in the Israelites' own experience of being strangers in Egypt.
Exodus 22:21This verse directly warns against mistreating a stranger, reminding Israel that they were once strangers in Egypt, echoing the empathetic foundation of Leviticus 19:34.
Acts 10:34-35Peter's realization that God shows no partiality and accepts anyone who fears Him, regardless of nationality, reflects the inclusive spirit of treating strangers with love.
Galatians 3:28This verse speaks of unity in Christ, where distinctions like nationality are done away with, illustrating the ultimate fulfillment of treating all people, including strangers, as equals.
bensonLeviticus 19:34: "But 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."
Leviticus 19:34 . As one born among you — Either, 1st, As to the matters of common right, so it reached to all strangers. Or, 2d, As to church privileges, so concerned only those who were proselytes. Ye were strangers — And therefore are sensible of the fears, distresses, and miseries of such;…
gillLeviticus 19:34: "But 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."
But a stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you,.... Especially if a proselyte of righteousness; for then he enjoyed the same privileges, civil and religious, the Israelites did, for there was one law for them both, Exodus 12:49 , and thou shalt love him as thyself…
The command to love the sojourner as yourself isn't just about avoiding mistreatment; it's about actively extending the same sense of belonging and value they have to the native-born. The reason given—"you were strangers in the land of Egypt"—isn't just a historical footnote, but a visceral reminder that their own liberation was rooted in God's compassion for the oppressed.
This command comes amidst a chapter detailing holiness and justice for the community, following instructions on honesty and fair treatment. It's a powerful extension of the "love your neighbor" principle, reminding the Israelites to extend compassion to those outside their nation. The verse immediately preceding it speaks of prohibiting sorcery and respecting the elderly, setting a tone of treating all people with dignity and divine reverence.
This command comes amidst a chapter detailing holiness and justice for the community, following instructions on honesty and fair treatment. It's a powerful extension of the "love your neighbor" principle, reminding the Israelites to extend compassion to those outside their nation. The verse immediately preceding it speaks of prohibiting sorcery and respecting the elderly, setting a tone of treating all people with dignity and divine reverence.
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"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." — The command to love the sojourner as yourself isn't just about avoiding mistreatment; it's about actively extending the same sense of belonging and value they have to the native-born. The reason give…
