Bible Dictionary

Foreigner

Jewish Life & Customs • Both

A foreigner was a person from another people or nation living among the Israelites. The law required foreigners to be treated with kindness and granted them various rights, while requiring them to observe certain community regulations.

Definition

A foreigner was a person from another people or nation, including one dwelling among the Israelites. Biblical terminology also includes a settler, alien resident, or sojourner living near the community.

Biblical Usage

The law required foreigners residing among Israel to be treated with kindness. They received many rights equal to those of native-born residents, but were not permitted to practice actions regarded as abominations under Israelite law.

Historical Background

Several Hebrew and Greek terms translated “foreigner” emphasize being unknown, foreign, a settler, or one dwelling nearby. The English versions sometimes use related terms such as “stranger,” “alien,” and “sojourner.”

Scripture References

Exodus 22:21 Exodus 23:9 Leviticus 19:33 Leviticus 19:34 Leviticus 23:22 Deuteronomy 14:28 Deuteronomy 16:10 Deuteronomy 16:11 Deuteronomy 24:19 Exodus 12:49 Leviticus 24:22 Numbers 15:15 Numbers 35:15 Exodus 20:10 Leviticus 17:15 Leviticus 17:16

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A Gentile. Such as resided among the Hebrews were required by the law to be treated with kindness (Ex. 22:21; 23:9; Lev. 19:33, 34; 23:22; Deut. 14:28; 16:10, 11; 24:19). They enjoyed in many things equal rights with the native-born residents (Ex. 12:49; Lev. 24:22; Num. 15:15; 35:15), but were not allowed to do anything which was an abomination according to the Jewish law (Ex. 20:10; Lev. 17:15, 16; 18:26; 20:2; 24:16, etc.).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

for'-in-er" The translation of nokhri, "unknown," "foreign," frequently rendered "stranger" (De 15:3; Ob 1:11); of toshabh, "a settler," "an alien resident" (Ex 12:45; the Revised Version (British and American) "sojourner"; compare Le 25:47; Ps 39:12); of paroikos, "dwelling near," "sojourner" (Eph 2:19, the Revised Version (British and American) sojourners").Revised Version has "foreigner" for "stranger" (De 17:15; 23:20; 29:22; Ru 2:10; 2Sa 15:19), for "alien" (De 14:21); "the hand of a foreigner" for "a stranger's hand" (Le 22:25).See ALIEN; STRANGER AND SOJOURNER.

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