In the biblical context, the term "foreigner" refers to individuals who are not native to the land of Israel or who do not belong to the Israelite community. The treatment and status of foreigners are addressed in various passages throughout the Bible, reflecting both the challenges and the responsibilities associated with their presence among the Israelites.

Old Testament

The Hebrew word for foreigner is "ger," which can also be translated as "sojourner" or "stranger." The Law of Moses contains specific instructions regarding the treatment of foreigners. In Exodus 22:21, the Israelites are commanded, "You must not exploit or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt." This commandment is a reminder of Israel's own history as foreigners and slaves in Egypt, emphasizing empathy and justice.

Leviticus 19:33-34 further instructs, "When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." This passage highlights the expectation of love and equality towards foreigners, integrating them into the community with the same rights and protections as native Israelites.

The inclusion of foreigners in religious practices is also noted. In Numbers 15:15, it is stated, "The assembly is to have the same statute for both you and the foreign resident; it is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD." This indicates that foreigners who chose to live among the Israelites were allowed to participate in religious observances, provided they adhered to the same laws.

New Testament

In the New Testament, the concept of foreigners expands beyond ethnic and national boundaries to include spiritual dimensions. The early Christian community, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, grappled with the integration of diverse groups. Ephesians 2:19 states, "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household." This verse underscores the unity and equality of all believers in Christ, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background.

The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) further illustrates the call to love and care for those who are different from oneself. Jesus uses the example of a Samaritan, considered a foreigner and outsider by the Jews, to demonstrate that love and compassion transcend ethnic and cultural barriers.

Theological Implications

The biblical treatment of foreigners reflects a broader theological theme of God's concern for justice, mercy, and inclusion. The consistent call to remember Israel's own history as foreigners in Egypt serves as a moral foundation for the ethical treatment of others. The integration of foreigners into the community of faith foreshadows the New Testament revelation of the gospel's reach to all nations.

Throughout Scripture, the presence of foreigners serves as a test of Israel's faithfulness to God's commands and a reminder of the universal scope of God's redemptive plan. The biblical narrative encourages believers to extend hospitality, justice, and love to all people, recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every individual as created in the image of God.

The Anti-Missionary Agitation.
... had the antidote to this poison and that they refused to administer it, except for
large sums of money or to such persons as embraced the foreigner's religion. ...
/.../fagg/forty years in south china/x the anti-missionary agitation.htm

Mrs. Hsi's Gift
... Firstly, the offer of a monetary prize for a classical essay"which he had won; secondly,
the insistence of the foreigner on a personal interview with the ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter i mrs hsis gift.htm

Preaching the Gospel, Healing the Sick
... whose minute feet prevent them from walking unaided, have found their way through
the open front door and brought some friends to see the house of the foreigner ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xxii preaching the gospel.htm

The Call and Feast of Levi
... But however Levi came by so strange and hateful an office, Jesus saw in him no slavish
earner of vile bread by doing the foreigner's hateful work. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 2 13-17 the call and.htm

He generally held, that whosoever would enjoy the happiness of ...
... him, would be as welcome as an Angel, and the coming of a stranger as delightful
as the Sun; all things in his house being as much the foreigner's as they were ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/22 he generally held that.htm

Man Proposes, God Disposes
... After raising my heart to GOD to ask His aid, I walked through to the farther end
of the town, where I thought the tidings of a foreigner's being in the place ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter xiii man proposes god.htm

The Story of an Opium Smoker
... Both uncle and nephew had secretly entirely changed their opinion concerning
the foreigner and the Christian doctrine which he inculcated. ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter x the story of.htm

Lives of Faith and Trust
... and drew up a paper setting forth that these two men had forsaken the customs and
religion of their fathers, were worshiping the foreigner's God, and went ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/lives of faith and trust.htm

Foreigner's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Foreigner's (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 6:24 To keep thee
from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner's tongue. (ASV). ...
/f/foreigner's.htm - 6k

Forejudging (1 Occurrence)

/f/forejudging.htm - 6k

Smoothness (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Smoothness (2 Occurrences). Proverbs 6:24 To keep thee
from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner's tongue. (See JPS). ...
/s/smoothness.htm - 7k

Foreigners (76 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 19:34 The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as
the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived ...
/f/foreigners.htm - 29k

Harlot (87 Occurrences)
... From the title given her in Prov, a "foreign woman" (23:27), and the warnings against
"the flattery of the foreigner's tongue" (6:24; compare 1 Kings 11:1 Ezra ...
/h/harlot.htm - 46k

Alien (102 Occurrences)
... A foreigner, or person born in another country, and therefore not entitled
to the rights and privileges of the country where he resides. ...
/a/alien.htm - 39k

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