Leviticus 19:34 Meaning: Love the Foreigner as Yourself
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.
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.
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.
as a native among you is the sojourner to you who is sojourning with you, and thou hast had love to him as to thyself, for sojourners ye have been in the land of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God.
As one born among you shall the stranger who sojourneth with you be unto you; and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.
Meaning in one sentence
Leviticus 19:34 commands Israel to love the foreigner as themselves, rooted in their own history as strangers in Egypt.
Context
The Book of Leviticus is centered on one call: be holy because God is holy. Chapter 19 spells out what that holiness looks like in everyday relationships. After commanding love for the neighbor (v. 18), the chapter turns to the foreigner living among Israel. This was not an abstract idea. God had just brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt, where they had been helpless outsiders for generations. The command in verse 34 grows directly from that memory. The same word for love used for the neighbor is now applied to the stranger. The chapter weaves together worship, justice, and compassion as one fabric of holy living.
Key Words
The Hebrew word behind “stranger” is ger, a sojourner or temporary resident without inherited rights. This person had no land, no family network, no safety net. When the verse says “love him as yourself,” it uses the same verb ahav that appears in the great command to love your neighbor in verse 18. That word is not about warm feelings. It means loyal, active care, the kind you give to your own life. And “native-born” translates ezrach, literally one who rises from the soil of the land. The stranger has no roots there, but God says: treat him as if he does. Let your history of being rootless shape how you welcome the rootless now.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse with the same heart but different boundaries. Some, like the Geneva Bible notes and John Wesley, understand it as applying to all foreigners in matters of common justice and compassion. Others, such as John Gill, emphasize that the stranger who joined Israel’s covenant community (a proselyte of righteousness) enjoyed full religious privileges. Both readings agree that the command is real and costly. The memory of Egypt, being powerless outsiders, gives every believer a reason to extend welcome. The debate is not about whether to love the stranger, but how far that love reaches. All seek to be faithful to the text.
A common misunderstanding
Some assume this command only applies to foreigners who share the faith of Israel. In fact, the Hebrew word ger most often describes any temporary resident without inherited rights, regardless of their beliefs. The surrounding verses in Exodus 22:21 and 23:9 speak of not oppressing a stranger, with no mention of conversion. Israel’s own history as unprotected foreigners in Egypt calls for compassion toward all who are vulnerable, not only those who worship the same God.
Living This Out
This week, notice someone who seems out of place, a new coworker, a family at church who doesn’t speak your language well, a neighbor whose customs are unfamiliar. Instead of waiting for them to fit in, you can move toward them. Ask their name. Learn their story. Remember a time when you felt like the outsider. The verse doesn’t ask you to solve every problem. It asks you to let your own memory of being a stranger open your heart. That one gesture of welcome may be the closest they get to seeing what God’s love looks like.
Main takeaway: Because God remembers how it felt to be a stranger, He calls His people to love every foreigner as they love themselves.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God wants us to be kind to people who are new or different. He says, “Love them like you love yourself.” When you see someone who looks lonely, you can say hello or share your snack. That’s what loving like God loves looks like.
For ages 9, 12
God reminded Israel that they used to be strangers in Egypt. They knew what it felt like to be unwanted and scared. That memory was supposed to make them kind to anyone who was new or different. God wants us to remember our own hard times so we can be gentle with other people’s hard times. Who is someone you know who might feel like an outsider? One small welcome can change everything for them.
Questions People Ask
Does 'stranger' in Leviticus 19:34 mean only a convert to Judaism?
Some commentators, like John Gill, apply it especially to proselytes of righteousness who joined Israel’s covenant community. But others, like Wesley and the Geneva Bible, understand it to include all foreigners living in the land. The Hebrew word ger generally means any temporary resident without inherited rights.
Is the command to 'love him as yourself' the same as loving your neighbor in Leviticus 19:18?
Yes. The same Hebrew verb ahav is used in both verses. The command to love the neighbor is extended to the foreigner. This is a radical expansion because neighbors were part of the covenant community, while strangers had no such standing.
Why does God tell Israel to remember being strangers in Egypt?
Israel’s experience in Egypt was one of powerlessness and suffering. By reminding them of that, God calls them to empathy. They knew firsthand what it felt like to be unprotected and mistreated. That memory was supposed to soften their hearts toward anyone in a similar position.
Does this verse still apply to Christians today, or was it only for ancient Israel?
Most Christian traditions see this as a lasting principle, not a temporary law. Jesus expands the command to love your neighbor to include enemies (Matthew 5:43). The New Testament also calls believers to show hospitality to strangers (Hebrews 13:2). The memory of being outsiders is now rooted in our own identity as foreigners in the world.
How is 'love' defined in this verse? Is it just a feeling?
In the Old Testament, love (ahav) is primarily action, not emotion. It means loyal care, protection, and practical help. The verse doesn’t ask for warm feelings toward every foreigner; it asks for the same kind of care you naturally give yourself.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study