Leviticus 19:34 - The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
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What does "Leviticus 19:34" mean?
This verse, Leviticus 19:34, is a powerful statement about how the Israelites (and, by extension, followers of Judaism and Christianity) should treat foreigners living among them. Let's break down its meaning:
"The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you...": This means that foreigners residing in the Israelite community were not to be treated as second-class citizens or outsiders. They were to be regarded with the same rights, respect, and dignity as those born within the community.
"...and you shall love him as yourself...": This is a central command in the Torah. It goes beyond mere tolerance or acceptance; it demands a deep and empathetic love for the foreigner. This love is equated with the love one has for oneself, emphasizing the inherent worth and value of every human being, regardless of their origin or background.
"...for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt...": This provides the rationale for the command. The Israelites themselves had experienced the vulnerability and hardship of being strangers in a foreign land. They knew what it was like to be marginalized, oppressed, and treated unfairly. Therefore, they had a moral obligation to treat foreigners with compassion and justice, remembering their own history of suffering. This serves as a powerful reminder of empathy born from shared experience.
"I am Yahweh your God.": This is the divine stamp of approval. It emphasizes that this command is not merely a suggestion or a social custom, but a direct commandment from God. It ties the treatment of foreigners to the very nature of God and to the Israelites' covenant relationship with Him. Obedience to this command is a demonstration of their faithfulness to God.
In summary, Leviticus 19:34 commands the Israelites to treat foreigners with the same respect, rights, and love as they would treat their own people, reminding them of their own experience as strangers in Egypt, and grounding this command in the authority and nature of God. It is a powerful ethical principle advocating for inclusivity, compassion, and social justice. It's a call to empathy and a reminder that our past experiences should inform how we treat others.
Leviticus 19:34 - The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
What does "Leviticus 19:34" mean?
This verse, Leviticus 19:34, is a powerful statement about how the Israelites (and, by extension, followers of Judaism and Christianity) should treat foreigners living among them. Let's break down its meaning:
"The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you...": This means that foreigners residing in the Israelite community were not to be treated as second-class citizens or outsiders. They were to be regarded with the same rights, respect, and dignity as those born within the community.
"...and you shall love him as yourself...": This is a central command in the Torah. It goes beyond mere tolerance or acceptance; it demands a deep and empathetic love for the foreigner. This love is equated with the love one has for oneself, emphasizing the inherent worth and value of every human being, regardless of their origin or background.
"...for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt...": This provides the rationale for the command. The Israelites themselves had experienced the vulnerability and hardship of being strangers in a foreign land. They knew what it was like to be marginalized, oppressed, and treated unfairly. Therefore, they had a moral obligation to treat foreigners with compassion and justice, remembering their own history of suffering. This serves as a powerful reminder of empathy born from shared experience.
"I am Yahweh your God.": This is the divine stamp of approval. It emphasizes that this command is not merely a suggestion or a social custom, but a direct commandment from God. It ties the treatment of foreigners to the very nature of God and to the Israelites' covenant relationship with Him. Obedience to this command is a demonstration of their faithfulness to God.
In summary, Leviticus 19:34 commands the Israelites to treat foreigners with the same respect, rights, and love as they would treat their own people, reminding them of their own experience as strangers in Egypt, and grounding this command in the authority and nature of God. It is a powerful ethical principle advocating for inclusivity, compassion, and social justice. It's a call to empathy and a reminder that our past experiences should inform how we treat others.