Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore love the foreigner; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
- BSB So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
- NKJV Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- NASB So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- NLT So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Because Israel were once foreigners in Egypt, they must love the foreigner. Remembering God's mercy should shape mercy toward others.
Overview
Moses grounds love for the stranger in Israel's own experience of being aliens whom God redeemed. Gratitude for grace received becomes the motive for showing grace to others. This pattern is fulfilled in the gospel, where those shown mercy in Christ are called to love and welcome others freely.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Exod 22:21Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- Lev 19:33–34And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
- Jas 2:15–16If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
- Gal 6:10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
- Luke 17:18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
- 1 Jn 3:17–18But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
- Luke 10:28–37And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
- Luke 6:35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 10:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.