And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
If a foreigner lives among you in your land, you must not mistreat him.
God is commanding His people to treat foreigners and immigrants with kindness and respect, not to oppress or harass them.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of Moses, the Israelites were a newly freed people receiving God's laws to establish a just society after their exodus from slavery in Egypt, where they themselves had been mistreated as strangers. This verse is part of the Holiness Code in Leviticus, which instructed the Israelites on ethical living and reminded them of God's compassion for the vulnerable, including foreigners living among them. It reflected the cultural reality of ancient Near Eastern societies, where strangers often faced exploitation, and God's command promoted a higher standard of fairness and protection.
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