Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
You shall have the same law for everyone - both for foreigners living among you and for your own citizens. I am the LORD your God.
God is declaring that His laws apply equally to everyone - both native-born Israelites and foreigners - because justice must be fair and impartial.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of Moses, the Israelites were receiving God's laws to guide their new nation in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, which included instructions on maintaining justice and order in their community. This verse specifically addresses the need for impartiality in legal matters, stating that the same laws should apply equally to native Israelites and foreigners living among them, as a reflection of God's holiness and fairness. It served as a reminder that God's standards of justice were not based on nationality but on His unchanging character, especially given the Israelites' own experience as strangers in Egypt.
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