Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 10:19
So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the covenant community of Israel on the plains of Moab, immediately after describing God’s justice for the vulnerable in verse 18. He issues this command as a practical outworking of the people’s own historical experience before entering the land.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַאֲהַבְתֶּם (va’ahavtem) means “and you shall love,” taking הַגֵּר (ha-ger), “the foreigner,” as its direct object. The causal clause כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם (ki gerim heyitem be’erec Mitzrayim) literally translates “for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
The thread — This exact historical rationale appears in Exodus 22:21, which commands the people not to oppress a foreign resident because they themselves were foreigners in Egypt. Leviticus 19:33 similarly forbids oppressing a foreigner residing among the people, and Luke 17:18 records a foreigner returning to give glory to God.
Why it lands — The text grounds the command to love the foreigner in a shared historical reality rather than abstract morality. It requires the reader to treat vulnerable outsiders with the same dignity and provision that God previously extended to them in Egypt.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 19:33 When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him.
- Exodus 22:21 You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
- Luke 17:18 Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”
- Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
- James 2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
- 1 John 3:17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
- Luke 10:28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”