What is the meaning of Exodus 23:9? Do not oppress “Do not oppress …” (Exodus 23:9) - God issues a clear, non-negotiable command. Oppression—any form of harsh treatment, exploitation, or denial of justice—is forbidden. - The same Holy God who says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3) also says, “Do not oppress.” Both carry equal weight. - Scripture consistently links righteousness with how we treat the vulnerable (Leviticus 19:13; Proverbs 14:31; James 2:1-4). - Jesus affirms this principle when He identifies Himself with “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). a foreign resident “… a foreign resident …” (Exodus 23:9) - A foreign resident is a non-Israelite who lives among God’s people, seeking safety, work, or refuge. - God demands the same basic protections for the outsider as for the native-born (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 1:16). - Ruth, a Moabite, becomes an ancestor of David and of Christ, illustrating God’s heart for the sojourner (Ruth 2:10-12; 4:13-22; Matthew 1:5). - In Christ, national distinctions never justify mistreatment (Acts 10:34-35; Galatians 3:28). since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners “… since you yourselves know how it feels …” (Exodus 23:9) - Empathy is commanded. Israel must remember the sting of alienation and let it shape their behavior. - Earlier God said, “You must not mistreat or oppress a foreign resident, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). He repeats it here—He wants it to sink in. - New-covenant believers are called to similar empathy: “Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them” (Hebrews 13:3); “We ourselves were once foolish …” (Titus 3:3). - Genuine mercy flows from recalling personal deliverance (Ephesians 2:12-13). for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt “… for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9) - Historical motivation grounds the command. Israel’s national memory of bondage is meant to shape national ethics (Deuteronomy 5:15; 24:17-22). - God redeemed them, so they must reflect His character—“The LORD your God defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19). - Redemption and compassion remain linked under the New Covenant: “You are a chosen people … once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people” (1 Peter 2:9-10; Colossians 3:12-15). - The command still speaks: those rescued by God should never replicate the oppression from which He saved them. summary Exodus 23:9 forbids any form of mistreatment toward non-Israelites dwelling among God’s people. The command is rooted in God’s just character, calls for active empathy, and is anchored in Israel’s own experience of foreign bondage. Believers today, redeemed by Christ, are to mirror that same compassion, treating every outsider with dignity, justice, and love. |
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