גֵּר (ger)
ger
sojourner
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 73 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ger refers to a sojourner or resident alien, specifically a person living in a land that is not their own. In ancient Israel, this individual lacked inherited tribal rights and property but was granted legal protection and certain religious privileges. The term emphasizes a temporary status; the ger is present in the community but remains distinct from native-born citizens.
This word appears frequently in the Law, particularly in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, where it is often paired with the widow and the orphan as groups requiring special care. The texts command Israelites to treat the ger with fairness and kindness, explicitly recalling their own history as strangers in Egypt (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:34). This historical memory grounds the ethical obligation to provide justice for those without local kinship ties.
Theological weight rests on the reminder that all Israelites are ultimately strangers before God. Leviticus 25:23 declares, "The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my country as foreigners and strangers." This perspective levels social hierarchies, reminding both native and foreigner alike of their shared dependent status under divine sovereignty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ger describes a resident alien or sojourner—someone living in a land that is not their own. In ancient Israel, this person lacked inherited tribal rights and property but was granted legal protection and certain religious privileges. This status emphasizes a temporary presence; the ger remains distinct from native-born citizens yet is included in the community’s ethical obligations.
God commands Israel to treat the ger with fairness and kindness, recalling their own history as strangers in Egypt (Exodus 22:21). Leviticus 19:34 explicitly instructs believers to love the foreigner as themselves. This historical memory grounds the duty to provide justice for those without local kinship ties.
Theologically, this reminds us that all Israelites are ultimately strangers before God. Leviticus 25:23 declares that the land belongs to God and His people reside there as foreigners. This perspective levels social hierarchies, reminding both native and foreigner alike of their shared dependent status under divine sovereignty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 73 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a sojourner15×
- and/ the/ sojourner8×
- and/ to the/ sojourner7×
- the/ sojourner[s]6×
- to the/ sojourner5×
- the/ sojourner5×
- and/ for the/ sojourner5×
- sojourners4×
- as the/ sojourner4×
- and/ sojourner/ your3×
- [the] sojourner2×
- [are] sojourners2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/לַ/גֵּ֖ר5×
- גֵּ֣ר5×
- וְ/לַ/גֵּר֙4×
- וְ/הַ/גֵּ֖ר4×
- הַ/גֵּר֙4×
- לַ/גֵּ֛ר3×
- וְ/הַ/גֵּ֛ר3×
- גֵרִ֥ים3×
- כַּ/גֵּר֙2×
- כַּ/גֵּ֥ר2×
- הַ/גֵּ֣ר\׀2×
- הַ/גֵּ֔ר2×
Key Verses
-
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.
This verse establishes the ethical command to love the ger as oneself, grounding the obligation in Israel’s own experience of being strangers in Egypt.
-
Exodus 23:9
“You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, since you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
This occurrence warns against oppressing the alien by appealing to Israel’s empathy as former strangers in Egypt.
-
Genesis 15:13
He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.
This verse foreshadows Israel’s future experience as gerim in Egypt, linking their identity to a history of foreign sojournership.