The term "sojourned" in the Bible refers to the act of dwelling temporarily in a place that is not one's permanent home. This concept is significant throughout the Scriptures, as it often highlights themes of faith, obedience, and reliance on God. The Hebrew word often translated as "sojourn" is "gur," which conveys the idea of living as a foreigner or stranger. In the New Testament, the Greek equivalent is "paroikeo," which carries a similar meaning.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are frequently described as sojourners. Their lives exemplify the transient nature of human existence and the call to trust in God's promises. Genesis 12:10 states, "Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while, because the famine was severe." Here, Abram (later Abraham) sojourns in Egypt due to a famine, illustrating his dependence on God's guidance and provision.

The Israelites' sojourn in Egypt is another pivotal event. Genesis 47:4 records, "They also said to Pharaoh, 'We have come to live in the land for a while, because there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in Canaan. So now, please let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.'" This period of sojourning eventually leads to their enslavement, setting the stage for the Exodus and God's deliverance.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of sojourning is used metaphorically to describe the Christian life. Believers are seen as temporary residents on earth, with their true citizenship in heaven. 1 Peter 2:11 exhorts, "Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul." This passage encourages Christians to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing their temporary status in this world.

Theological Significance

The theme of sojourning underscores the biblical narrative of faith and pilgrimage. It reflects the understanding that God's people are called to live in the world but not be of it, maintaining a distinct identity and purpose. The sojourner's journey is marked by trust in God's promises, even when the path is uncertain or challenging.

Throughout Scripture, sojourning serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the hope of a future home. Hebrews 11:9-10 speaks of Abraham's faith: "By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." This passage highlights the forward-looking faith of the patriarchs, who sojourned with the expectation of God's ultimate fulfillment of His promises.

In summary, the biblical concept of sojourning is rich with spiritual meaning, calling believers to live as temporary residents on earth, with their hearts set on their eternal home with God.(imp. & p. p.) of Sojourn.4033. magor -- a sojourning place, dwelling place, a sojourning
... a sojourning place, dwelling place, a sojourning NASB Word Usage dwelling (1),
pilgrimage (1), sojourning (2), sojournings (2), where he sojourned (1), where ...
/hebrew/4033.htm - 6k

1481a. gur -- to sojourn
... dwell (3), dwells (1), habitation (1), live (4), live as aliens (2), lives (1),
reside (13), resided (1), resides (3), sojourn (11), sojourned (9), sojourning ...
/hebrew/1481a.htm - 5k

Chapter xx
... 1. And Abraham journeyed from thence to the land of the South Country (Negeb)
and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; he also sojourned in Gerar. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xx.htm

The Illusiveness of Life.
... By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling
in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/vi the illusiveness of life.htm

Of Humanity to Strangers.
... at that time, there being a famine, they were obliged to migrate to Egypt for the
sake of buying food there, where also for a time they sojourned; and these ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter x of humanity to strangers.htm

How the Gospels Cause the Other Books of Scripture Also to be ...
... interpreted the mysteries they contained, did not convey such a promise as belongs
to our definition of the Gospel; but the Saviour, when He sojourned with men ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/8 how the gospels cause.htm

And yet it is Perhaps Straining Too Far for those who do Believe ...
... And yet it is perhaps straining too far for those who do believe that God sojourned
here in life to object to the manner of His appearance [1986] , as wanting ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xviii and yet it.htm

Chapter xxxvi
... For their property was too great to allow for them to dwell together, nor was the
land where they sojourned able to support them in view of their flocks. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvi.htm

From the Epistles of Alexander. I. An Epistle to the People of ...
... This Clement, at any rate, did live up to the time of the Emperor Severus, and
sojourned in these parts, as he tells us himself in the first book of his ...
/.../the writings of alexander of cappadocia/from the epistles of alexander.htm

The Publication of the Gospel
... The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction which was used whenever
the ark of the Lord set forward while Israel sojourned in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxx the publication of.htm

Abraham's Faith
... SERMON XII. ABRAHAM'S FAITH. HEBREWS, xi.9, 10. "By faith Abraham sojourned in the
land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xii abrahams faith.htm

Of the Mission of the Holy Ghost Fifty Days after Christ's ...
... "Thereafter, having confirmed the disciples, and having sojourned with them forty
days, He ascended up into heaven, as these same persons were beholding Him. ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 23 of the mission of.htm

Sojourned (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Sojourn. Multi-Version Concordance
Sojourned (20 Occurrences). John 11:54 Jesus therefore ...
/s/sojourned.htm - 12k

Staying (39 Occurrences)
... Genesis 32:4 And he commanded them, saying: 'Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau:
Thus saith thy servant Jacob: I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until ...
/s/staying.htm - 17k

Sojourn (51 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people
when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm led he them ...
/s/sojourn.htm - 24k

Gerar (10 Occurrences)
... town and district in the south border of Palestine, which was ruled over by a king
named Abimelech (Genesis 10:19; 20:1, 2). Abraham sojourned here, and ...
/g/gerar.htm - 12k

Exodus (2 Occurrences)
... In the LXX., the words are, "The sojourning of the children of Israel which they
sojourned in Egypt and in the land of Canaan was four hundred and thirty years ...
/e/exodus.htm - 82k

Dwelt (307 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 11:9 By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign
country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of ...
/d/dwelt.htm - 36k

Zipporah (3 Occurrences)
... and Eliezer, when so far on the way with Moses toward Egypt, were sent back by him
to her own kinsfolk, the Midianites, with whom they sojourned till Moses ...
/z/zipporah.htm - 9k

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)
... Here Elijah sojourned with a poor widow during the "great famine," when the "heaven
was shut up three years and six months" (Luke 4:26; 1 Kings 17:10). ...
/z/zarephath.htm - 11k

Kirjath-arba (8 Occurrences)
... (DBY WBS YLT). Genesis 35:27 And Jacob came to Isaac his father to Mamre to
Kirjath-Arba, which is Hebron; where Abraham had sojourned, and Isaac. (DBY). ...
/k/kirjath-arba.htm - 9k

Kiriath-arba (9 Occurrences)
... (ASV BBE NAS). Genesis 35:27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to
Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. ...
/k/kiriath-arba.htm - 9k

What does the Bible say about heritage? | GotQuestions.org

What is a sojourner in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Sarah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Sojourned: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus