Leviticus 19:33 kjv
And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
Leviticus 19:33 nkjv
'And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.
Leviticus 19:33 niv
"?'When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.
Leviticus 19:33 esv
"When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
Leviticus 19:33 nlt
"Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land.
Leviticus 19 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 19:34 | "You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself..." | Extends protection to love. |
| Ex 22:21 | "You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." | Basis in Israel's history. |
| Ex 23:9 | "You shall not oppress a sojourner; you know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt." | Reinforces historical empathy. |
| Deut 10:18-19 | "He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore..." | God's example, command to love. |
| Deut 24:14 | "You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners..." | Prevents economic exploitation. |
| Deut 27:19 | "Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow..." | Divine curse on oppressors. |
| Zech 7:10 | "do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor..." | Prophetic warning against injustice. |
| Jer 22:3 | "Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness... do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow..." | Call to righteous leadership. |
| Ezek 22:7 | "Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst..." | Prophetic indictment of societal sin. |
| Mal 3:5 | "Then I will draw near to you for judgment... against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and who turn aside the sojourner..." | God's judgment on injustice. |
| Prov 14:31 | "Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors him." | Connects treatment of poor/vulnerable to God. |
| Prov 22:22-23 | "Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate... for the LORD will plead their cause..." | God defends the oppressed. |
| Rom 12:13 | "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." | New Testament command for hospitality. |
| Heb 13:2 | "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." | Emphasizes hospitality to unknown. |
| Mt 25:35, 40 | "for I was hungry and you gave me food... I was a stranger and you welcomed me... as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." | Jesus identifies with the vulnerable stranger. |
| 1 Pet 2:11 | "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh..." | Believers as spiritual sojourners. |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Universal equality in Christ. |
| Eph 2:19 | "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God..." | Unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ. |
| James 2:1-4 | Warns against showing partiality to the rich over the poor, implying just treatment for all. | Impartiality in community. |
| Col 3:12 | "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience..." | Christian virtues extending to all. |
Leviticus 19 verses
Leviticus 19 33 Meaning
Leviticus 19:33 commands the Israelites to not mistreat or oppress a foreign resident who dwells among them in their land. It establishes a fundamental ethical principle that those who are vulnerable, specifically the "stranger" or "sojourner," must be treated justly and not exploited or caused harm, reflecting God's own righteous character and Israel's historical experience.
Leviticus 19 33 Context
Leviticus 19 is a central chapter in the "Holiness Code" (Lev 17-26), often summarized by the overarching command, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev 19:2). This chapter meticulously outlines what it means for Israel to embody holiness in daily life, connecting ritual purity with social and ethical conduct. Prior to verse 33, commands cover honoring parents, observing the Sabbath, avoiding idolatry, fairness in harvest, respecting the poor, honesty, impartiality in judgment, avoiding gossip, loving one's neighbor as oneself, and treating hired servants justly. Therefore, the command to not wrong the sojourner fits squarely within a comprehensive code of conduct emphasizing justice, compassion, and fair treatment for all members of society, particularly the vulnerable. Historically and culturally, most ancient Near Eastern legal codes offered fewer protections for foreigners compared to their native citizens, making Israel's law distinctly compassionate and revolutionary for its time, rooted in Yahweh's character and Israel's redemptive experience.
Leviticus 19 33 Word analysis
- And if (וְכִי - ve-khi): Connects this command to the preceding laws, indicating it's part of the continuous instruction on holiness. It introduces a conditional clause.
- a stranger (גֵּר - ger): This specific Hebrew term refers to a resident alien or sojourner who has taken up temporary or permanent residence within Israel, but is not ethnically Israelite. They had often left their own land, lacked familial networks, and were thus socially and economically vulnerable. This distinguishes them from a casual visitor or a hostile foreigner.
- sojourns (יָגוּר - yagur): From the verb gur, meaning "to dwell," "to reside as a sojourner," or "to live temporarily." It emphasizes their transient or non-native status, yet their presence in the community.
- with you (אִתְּכֶם - it'khem): This direct address implies a personal responsibility on the part of each Israelite or the community as a whole.
- in your land (בְּאַרְצְכֶם - b'artzkem): Highlights that the stranger is within Israel's divinely appointed territory, thus under the jurisdiction of God's laws and Israel's covenant responsibilities. The land belongs to God, and Israel holds it as a stewardship.
- you shall not (לֹא - lo): A strong, categorical negative prohibition. This is an absolute command.
- wrong / oppress (תּוֹנוּ - tonu): From the verb yanah (יָנָה), which means to treat violently, to deal oppressively, to afflict, to vex, or to defraud. It refers to a broad range of ill-treatment, including physical harm, verbal abuse, economic exploitation (e.g., in business dealings, labor), or judicial perversion. It implies taking advantage of one's vulnerable status.
- him (אֹתוֹ - oto): The direct object of the prohibition, emphasizing the specific individual sojourner.
- Words-group analysis:
- "And if a stranger sojourns with you in your land": This phrase precisely defines the scenario and the subject of the command. It refers to those who are non-native but reside within Israelite society, who are potentially dependent on Israelite hospitality and justice, making them particularly vulnerable.
- "you shall not wrong him": This concise prohibition encapsulates the divine expectation of justice and fair treatment. It extends God's character of protection for the vulnerable to His people, demanding active non-oppression. It covers not just passive neglect, but active, detrimental conduct.
Leviticus 19 33 Bonus Section
The command in Leviticus 19:33 is intrinsically linked to the subsequent verse, Leviticus 19:34, which states, "You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." This amplifies the negative prohibition into a positive command to love, showcasing a deep theological and ethical connection. It underscores that non-oppression is a baseline, while active love and impartial treatment are the ultimate expressions of holiness. This principle foreshadows universal love for one's neighbor that Jesus would later teach (Mark 12:31). Furthermore, the frequent repetition of this command across the Pentateuch, particularly in Deuteronomy, indicates its paramount importance in the Mosaic Law, stressing God's ongoing concern for the marginalized. The New Testament church, composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, came to understand themselves as spiritual "sojourners and exiles" in this world (1 Pet 2:11), providing a further layer of empathy and imperative for showing hospitality and love to those who are literally or figuratively strangers.
Leviticus 19 33 Commentary
Leviticus 19:33 stands as a pivotal command in Israel's Holiness Code, reflecting the character of Yahweh and setting a high moral standard for His people. It directly forbids the oppression of the ger, the resident alien, emphasizing justice for a highly vulnerable demographic in ancient society. Unlike many ancient Near Eastern legal codes that afforded fewer rights to foreigners, Israel's law, uniquely based on God's revelation, consistently championed their protection. The prohibition "you shall not wrong him" (using yanah) signifies protection against all forms of mistreatment – legal, economic, or social. This included fair wages, just dealings in commerce, and equal standing before the law (apart from certain specific privileges tied to Israelite identity). The theological underpinning for this command is found in the following verse (Lev 19:34) and elsewhere in the Torah, namely, Israel's own experience as sojourners in Egypt (Ex 22:21; 23:9; Deut 10:19). Having known oppression, Israel was uniquely called to prevent it in their own land. This command is not merely a legal dictate but a call to empathetic righteousness, a practical demonstration of being a holy people set apart by God. It is an example of the Law extending care and justice beyond ethnic or tribal lines.
Examples:
- Not charging exorbitant interest rates to a foreign resident.
- Paying a foreign worker fair wages for their labor, as if they were a native Israelite.
- Ensuring equal access to justice in legal disputes, not discriminating based on origin.