So show your love for the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore love the foreigner; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
- KJV Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers 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.
- 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 22:21“You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
- Lev 19:33–34“‘If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
- Jas 2:15–16And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
- Gal 6:10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
- Luke 17:18Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?”
- 1 Jn 3:17–18But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
- Luke 10:28–37He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”
- Luke 6:35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and 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.