Exodus 23:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Do not oppress foreigners, because you experienced the pain of being a stranger in Egypt.
The Context of Exodus 23:9
Laws protecting strangers and sojourners from exploitation.
What Does Exodus 23:9 Mean?
Israel's slavery in Egypt gives them direct knowledge of what it feels like to be powerless and exploited. This memory is meant to generate empathy and restraint toward sojourners and aliens living among them. Oppression of the foreigner contradicts their own lived experience.
God appeals to Israel's conscience through their history. The God who freed them from oppression expects them to extend the same protection to vulnerable foreigners in their midst.
Exodus 23:9 in the Original Language
ger (גֵּר), 'stranger'—a resident alien or foreigner living among Israel, distinct from a native Israelite but entitled to protection under the law.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 23:9
What does Exodus 23:9 mean?
Do not oppress foreigners, because you experienced the pain of being a stranger in Egypt.
What is the context of Exodus 23:9?
Laws protecting strangers and sojourners from exploitation.