Leviticus 19:34

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

[But] the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Rather, treat the foreigner staying with you like the native-born among you - you are to love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt; I am ADONAI your God.

Berean Standard Bible:

You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

American Standard Version:

The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But the stranger^{H1616} that dwelleth^{H1481} with you shall be unto you as one born^{H249} among you, and thou shalt love^{H157} him as thyself; for ye were strangers^{H1616} in the land^{H776} of Egypt^{H4714}: I am the LORD^{H3068} your God^{H430}.

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Commentary for Leviticus 19:34

Leviticus 19:34 is part of the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, which provides instructions for the Israelites on how to live a holy life, set apart for God. This verse specifically addresses the treatment of foreigners or "strangers" who reside among the Israelite community. The historical context is significant; the Israelites themselves had been strangers and sojourners in Egypt, where they experienced oppression and slavery. This shared experience of vulnerability and alienation is used as a moral imperative to command the Israelites to treat non-Israelites living among them with fairness, kindness, and equality.

The verse emphasizes the principle of impartiality and the extension of neighborly love to the alien, mandating that the Israelites should not discriminate against foreigners but rather embrace them as if they were native-born citizens. The command to "love him as thyself" elevates the treatment of strangers to a level of personal empathy and care, reflecting the golden rule found in various religious traditions. The declaration "I [am] the LORD your God" at the end of the verse serves as a divine sanction, affirming that this command is not merely a human convention but a directive from God, which should be obeyed out of reverence and obedience to the divine will.

In summary, Leviticus 19:34 underscores the themes of hospitality, compassion, and social justice, which are integral to the moral fabric of the Israelite society as prescribed by the Torah. It calls for the fair treatment of immigrants and minorities, grounded in the Israelites' own historical experience and reinforced by the authority of God. This verse has continued relevance in discussions about immigration, social integration, and the ethical treatment of all individuals, regardless of their origin.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1616
   There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גֵּר
   Transliteration: gêr
   Pronunciation: gare
   Description: or (fully) geyr (gare); from גּוּר; properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner; alien, sojourner, stranger.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1481
   There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גּוּר
   Transliteration: gûwr
   Pronunciation: goor
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place); also to gather forhostility (as afraid); abide, assemble, be afraid, dwell, fear, gather (together), inhabitant, remain, sojourn, stand in awe, (be) stranger, [idiom] surely.
   
3. Strong's Number: H249
   There are 317 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶזְרָח
   Transliteration: ʼezrâch
   Pronunciation: ez-rawkh'
   Description: from זָרַח (in the sense of springing up); a spontaneous growth, i.e. native (tree or persons); bay tree, (home-) born (in the land), of the (one's own) country (nation).
   
4. Strong's Number: H157
   There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָהַב
   Transliteration: ʼâhab
   Pronunciation: aw-hab'
   Description: or אָהֵב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.
   
5. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
6. Strong's Number: H4714
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
   Transliteration: Mitsrayim
   Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
   Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
8. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.