Sojourners
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Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "sojourners" refers to individuals who reside temporarily in a land that is not their own. The concept of sojourning is deeply embedded in the narrative of the Bible, reflecting themes of pilgrimage, exile, and the transient nature of human life on earth. The Hebrew word often translated as "sojourner" is "ger," while the Greek equivalent in the New Testament is "paroikos."

Old Testament Context

The life of a sojourner is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, is described as a sojourner. In Genesis 23:4 , Abraham says, "I am a stranger and a sojourner among you. Give me a burial site among you so that I can bury my dead." This statement underscores the temporary and dependent status of sojourners, who often relied on the hospitality and goodwill of the native inhabitants.

The Law of Moses contains specific instructions regarding the treatment of sojourners. Exodus 22:21 commands, "You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt." This commandment reflects God's concern for justice and compassion, reminding the Israelites of their own history as sojourners in Egypt. Leviticus 19:34 further instructs, "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."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of sojourning takes on a spiritual dimension. The Apostle Peter addresses believers as sojourners and exiles in 1 Peter 2:11 : "Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul." Here, the term "sojourner" is used metaphorically to describe Christians' temporary residence on earth, emphasizing their ultimate citizenship in heaven.

The Epistle to the Hebrews also reflects on the sojourning of the patriarchs, highlighting their faith and forward-looking hope. Hebrews 11:13 states, "All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth."

Theological Significance

The status of sojourners in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of human life and the call to live with an eternal perspective. It challenges believers to practice hospitality, justice, and compassion towards those who are foreigners or marginalized. The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as a protector and provider for sojourners, reflecting His character as a God of justice and mercy.

The theme of sojourning also encourages Christians to view their earthly life as a temporary journey, with their true home being in the presence of God. This perspective fosters a sense of detachment from worldly concerns and a focus on spiritual growth and eternal values.
Strong's Hebrew
8453. toshab -- a sojourner
... Word Origin from yashab Definition a sojourner NASB Word Usage foreign resident
(1), settlers (1), sojourner (8), sojourners (2), sojourning (1), tenants (1). ...
/hebrew/8453.htm - 6k

1616. ger -- a sojourner
... Word Origin from gur Definition a sojourner NASB Word Usage alien (40), aliens
(11), foreigners (1), immigrants (1), sojourner (5), sojourners (2), stranger (25 ...
/hebrew/1616.htm - 6k

Library

Sojourners of the Dispersion
... THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER SOJOURNERS OF THE DISPERSION. 'Peter, an Apostle
of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered ...'"1 Peter 1:1. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/sojourners of the dispersion.htm

Sojourners with God
... THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS SOJOURNERS WITH GOD. ... 'Ye are strangers and
sojourners'"pilgrims who make a brief halt in a foreign country. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/sojourners with god.htm

Psalm LXI.
... Which of us is a sojourner even unto ages? For a few days here we live, and we pass
away: for sojourners here we are, inhabitants in Heaven we shall be. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxi.htm

The Pilgrim's Longings
... Abraham returned not; Isaac returned not; Jacob returned not. The promise was
to them as "strangers and sojourners," and so they continued. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the pilgrims longings.htm

Psalm cxxxvii. 4
... otherwise ill-treated; they had new homes given them in which they lived unmolested;
only they were torn away from their own land, and were as sojourners in a ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xxix psalm cxxxvii 4.htm

Ephesians ii. 17-22
... So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with
the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of ...
/.../homily vi ephesians ii 17-22.htm

The Catholic Epistles.
... 8. The readers addressed in the epistle are "the elect sojourners of the dispersion,
of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia," all provinces of Asia ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxi the catholic epistles.htm

2 Cor. vii. 13
... Knowest thou not that we live in a foreign land, as though strangers and
sojourners? Knowest thou not that it is the lot of sojourners ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xvi 2 cor vii.htm

Period iii. The Critical Period: AD 140 to AD 200
... Medes, Elamites, and they who inhabit Mesopotamia, Armenia, Phrygia, Cappadocia,
and those dwelling in Pontus and Asia, and Pamphylia, sojourners in Egypt, and ...
/.../a source book for ancient church history/period iii the critical period .htm

The Spirit and Power of Elias.
... In the remarkable sentence, which, for the first time, introduces Elijah to the
Bible and the world, we are told that he was one of the sojourners in Gilead ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xvii the spirit and power.htm

Thesaurus
Sojourners (37 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sojourners (37 Occurrences). Acts 2:10 in Phrygia
and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about ...
/s/sojourners.htm - 18k

Sojourning (35 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 17:10 And any man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners, who is
sojourning in your midst, who eateth any blood, I have even set My face ...
/s/sojourning.htm - 18k

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)
... Peter writes to the "elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion." James employs
the term "Dispersion" to designate believing Hebrews of the Twelve Tribes who ...
/d/discomfiture.htm - 101k

Settlers (4 Occurrences)
... Settlers (4 Occurrences). Leviticus 25:23 And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity;
for the land is mine: for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. ...
/s/settlers.htm - 7k

Natives (6 Occurrences)
... is not found in your houses, for any 'one' eating anything fermented -- that person
hath been cut off from the company of Israel, among the sojourners or among ...
/n/natives.htm - 8k

Sojourneth (27 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 17:8 And unto them thou sayest: Any man of the house of Israel, or of
the sojourners, who sojourneth in your midst, who causeth burnt-offering or ...
/s/sojourneth.htm - 15k

Sojourner (81 Occurrences)
... Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be
sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall ...
/s/sojourner.htm - 48k

Elijah (104 Occurrences)
... Elijah is identified at his first appearance (1 Kings 17:1) as "Elijah the Tishbite,
who was of the sojourners of Gilead." Thus his native place must have been ...
/e/elijah.htm - 71k

Year (4027 Occurrences)
... of selling any piece of land permanently (Leviticus 25:23), the next verse furnishing
the motive: "The land is mine: for ye are strangers and sojourners with me ...
/y/year.htm - 26k

Home-born (14 Occurrences)
... 19:34 The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among
you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were sojourners in the ...
/h/home-born.htm - 11k

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

Why were non-Israelites allowed to participate in the sacrificial system? | GotQuestions.org

What are Red Letter Christians? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Sojourners (37 Occurrences)

Acts 2:10
in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
(ASV)

Ephesians 2:19
So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
(ASV RSV)

Hebrews 11:13
All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
(DBY YLT)

1 Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
(ASV DBY YLT)

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;
(ASV DBY YLT)

Genesis 15:13
And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
(ASV RSV)

Genesis 36:7
For their property was too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were sojourners could not bear them, because of their cattle.
(DBY)

Exodus 6:4
And I established also my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were sojourners.
(DBY RSV)

Exodus 12:19
seven days leaven is not found in your houses, for any 'one' eating anything fermented -- that person hath been cut off from the company of Israel, among the sojourners or among the natives of the land;
(YLT)

Exodus 22:21
And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
(ASV YLT)

Exodus 23:9
And a sojourner shalt thou not oppress: for ye know the heart of a sojourner, seeing ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
(ASV YLT)

Leviticus 17:8
And unto them thou sayest: Any man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners, who sojourneth in your midst, who causeth burnt-offering or sacrifice to ascend,
(YLT)

Leviticus 17:10
And any man of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners, who is sojourning in your midst, who eateth any blood, I have even set My face against the person who is eating the blood, and have cut him off from the midst of his people;
(YLT)

Leviticus 17:13
and any man of the sons of Israel, or of the sojourners, who is sojourning in your midst, who hunteth venison, beast or fowl, which is eaten -- hath even poured out its blood, and hath covered it with dust;
(YLT)

Leviticus 17:15
And any person who eateth a carcase or torn thing, among natives or among sojourners -- hath both washed his garments, and hath bathed with water, and hath been unclean until the evening -- then he hath been clean;
(YLT)

Leviticus 19:34
The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.
(ASV YLT)

Leviticus 20:2
And unto the sons of Israel thou dost say, Any man of the sons of Israel, and of the sojourners who is sojourning in Israel, who giveth of his seed to the Molech, is certainly put to death; the people of the land do stone him with stones;
(YLT)

Leviticus 22:18
Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whosoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that offereth his oblation, whether it be any of their vows, or any of their freewill-offerings, which they offer unto Jehovah for a burnt-offering;
(ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Leviticus 25:23
The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Leviticus 25:45
Moreover of the children of them that dwell as sojourners with you, of them may ye buy, and of their family that is with you, which they beget in your land, and they shall be your possession.
(DBY NAS)

Deuteronomy 10:19
Love ye therefore the sojourner; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
(ASV YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 24:14
Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy sojourners that are in thy land within thy gates:
(ASV DBY RSV)

Joshua 8:35
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners that were among them.
(ASV RSV)

2 Samuel 4:3
And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
(ASV)

1 Chronicles 16:19
When ye were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it;
(See JPS ASV YLT RSV)

1 Chronicles 22:2
And David commanded to gather together the sojourners that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
(ASV YLT)

1 Chronicles 29:15
For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 2:17
And Solomon numbered all the sojourners that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
(ASV YLT)

2 Chronicles 15:9
and gathereth all Judah and Benjamin, and the sojourners with them out of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and out of Simeon -- for they have fallen unto him from Israel in abundance, in their seeing that Jehovah his God 'is' with him.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 30:25
And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.
(ASV YLT NAS RSV)

Job 19:15
The sojourners in my house and my maids count me as a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.
(DBY YLT)

Psalms 105:12
When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.
(See JPS ASV YLT RSV)

Psalms 146:9
Jehovah preserveth the sojourners; He upholdeth the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
(ASV RSV)

Isaiah 5:17
And fed have lambs according to their leading, And waste places of the fat ones Do sojourners consume.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 14:7
for every one of the house of Israel, and of the sojourners who doth sojourn in Israel, who is separated from after Me, and doth cause his idols to go up unto his heart, and the stumbling-block of his iniquity setteth over-against his face, and hath come in unto the prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I, Jehovah, have answered him for Myself;
(YLT)

Ezekiel 47:22
and it hath come to pass, ye separate it for an inheritance to yourselves, and to the sojourners who are sojourning in your midst, who have begotten sons in your midst, and they have been to you as native, with the sons of Israel, with you they are separated for an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Sojourners

Related Terms

Sojourneth (27 Occurrences)

Sojourners (37 Occurrences)

Grandson (14 Occurrences)

Deceitfully (22 Occurrences)

Sojourner
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