Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him, х geer (H1616)]. By "stranger" is meant foreigners generally-all people who were not included in the covenant of Israel. [The sacred history recognizes a distinction between ger, a sojourner or proselyte, and thoshab, an uncircumcised Gentile (see the notes at Exodus 12:19; Exodus 12:45). But in this passage, as well as in Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 10:19; Deuteronomy 31:12, ger seems to be used for foreigners indiscriminately. The Septuagint has proseeluton in both clauses of this verse.] Strangers are never mentioned in the Mosaic law without the Israelites being enjoined to cherish kindly feelings toward them (cf. Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19).
For ye were strangers in the land of Egypt - (cf. Deuteronomy 10:19.) This appeal to their own painful experience of the isolated position of foreigners, before the exodus, was calculated to make a powerful impression on their feelings, and to lead them to do what they could for alleviating the distress of strangers in their land. But the allusion to the position of the Israelites as strangers in Egypt had a further and deeper significance; because it reminded them that as while they were in that oppressed condition, God had visited them with the tokens of His paternal grace and interest, so He might transfer His favour to other strangers, if they proved unfaithful to his laws established amount them. The sympathetic spirit of this law was widely different from the prevailing customs of contemporary or ancient nations, who generally regarded strangers with suspicion, and subjected them to many vexatious restrictions, which are continued in many even of the most civilized countries of Europe.