What does "sojourner" mean in the Bible?

Definition and Linguistic Background

In Scripture, a “sojourner” refers to an individual residing temporarily in a land not originally his own or living among people who are not of his own kindred. In many Old Testament passages, the most common Hebrew term translated as “sojourner” or “foreigner” is גֵּר (gēr). This word indicates someone who has left his homeland—voluntarily or otherwise—and remains in another territory without enjoying all the rights and privileges of citizenship there. Other related Hebrew words, such as תּוֹשָׁב (tōšāḇ, “resident alien”), sometimes overlap in meaning, but the concept closely ties to the idea of being dependent on the hospitality and goodwill of the host community.

In the New Testament, Greek words such as πάροικος (paroikos, “stranger” or “exile”) and παρεπίδημος (parepidēmos, “sojourner” or “temporary resident”) convey this concept of living temporarily in a place. These terms emphasize the believer’s short-lived residence in the present world, underscoring a deeper spiritual message that believers’ ultimate home and citizenship are elsewhere.

Biblical Examples of Sojourners

Throughout the Bible, notable figures are depicted as sojourners:

1. Abraham and His Descendants:

Abraham journeyed from Ur into Canaan (Genesis 12:1). His identity as a sojourner appears when he lives in lands not his own. Later, his descendants also sojourned in Egypt. This lineage maintained a “pilgrim” status until the fulfillment of various covenant promises (cf. Genesis 15:13).

2. Jacob and His Family:

During a severe famine, Jacob and his sons relocated to Egypt (Genesis 46). Their sojourn there eventually led to their enslavement, highlighting acute dependence on God’s deliverance. Historical studies of the ancient Near East, supported by archaeological findings like the Tel el-Daba excavations in the Nile Delta region, confirm the presence of Semitic peoples in Egypt, fitting the biblical record of foreign sojourners.

3. Israel in the Wilderness:

After the Exodus, the Israelites dwelled as sojourners in the wilderness for forty years, reliant on divine provision of manna and quail (Exodus 16–17). This event, described in the oldest extant Hebrew manuscripts and corroborated by the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint, undergirds the historical reliability of the Israelites’ sojourning experiences.

4. Foreigners Among the Israelites:

Scripture repeatedly instructs the Israelites to remember they were sojourners in Egypt and to care for those who are “foreigners” or “resident aliens” among them. “When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as you would treat a native-born…” (Leviticus 19:33–34). This compassion-based injunction underscores the moral and covenantal importance of welcoming sojourners.

Theological and Moral Dimensions

1. Dependence on God:

Many biblical sojourners symbolize reliance on divine provision. Abraham’s travels, Israel’s wilderness wandering, and the exile narratives all demonstrate that life outside one’s homeland requires trust in the sovereignty and care of the Creator.

2. Community Responsibility:

The habit of caring for sojourners runs throughout biblical law and morality. From Old Testament commands to New Testament exhortations (Romans 12:13), consistent threads of hospitality and love of neighbor appear. This ethics of caring for those outside one’s native community also supports the broader biblical teaching on love and mercy.

3. Spiritual “Sojourning” for Believers:

New Testament authors apply the concept metaphorically to Christians. “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). The Christian sojourner thus looks beyond the earthly sphere, recognizing life here as temporary, with a heavenly citizenship.

Christ and the Sojourner Theme

1. Identification with the Outcast:

Jesus’ earthly ministry resonates with the sojourner theme, as He often ministered among those marginalized by society. His own movement from region to region, and ultimate rejection by many, underscores the biblical motif of the traveler dependent on God’s purpose.

2. Eternal Security:

Christ’s resurrection provides assurance for all who believe. While believers sojourn in a fallen world, they anticipate a home “not made by human hands” (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:1). This promise underscores the function of sojourning language as a type or picture of the journey toward God and His eternal kingdom.

Relevant Archaeological and Historical Corroboration

1. Ancient Near Eastern Records:

Texts like the Mari Letters and various Ugaritic writings describe non-local groups who settled or passed through foreign territories under terms similar to biblical accounts. These records align with the concept of the “gēr,” further attesting that sojourners in the ancient world often relied on treaties, hospitality codes, or clan relationships.

2. Dead Sea Scrolls and Manuscript Evidence:

The Dead Sea Scrolls preserve large portions of Old Testament writings, confirming the consistent usage of terms for foreigners or sojourners from an early period. This continuity testifies to the transmission integrity of the biblical text, supporting the notion that teachings on kindness toward the sojourner were consistently valued.

Contemporary Application

1. Hospitality and Compassion:

The biblical sojourner ethic remains relevant in encouraging societies and individuals to extend care to those who are displaced or lacking social privileges. While modern laws and circumstances vary, the principle of showing mercy to the vulnerable does not change.

2. Spiritual Perspective:

Believers are reminded that we, too, are spiritual sojourners. According to New Testament teaching, earthly life is not a final destination. This reality shapes our moral conduct, priorities, and hope, as we look toward a future inheritance with God.

Conclusion

“Sojourner” is a multifaceted biblical term describing those dwelling in a land not originally theirs, dependent on the grace and protection of others. From Abraham’s travels to the early Christian community’s sense of foreignness, Scripture portrays sojourning as an integral motif of faith, trust, and moral living.

This idea highlights God’s directive to show hospitality and empathy, grounded in a common human experience of impermanence. Ultimately, the sojourner theme is a crucial reminder that mortal life, for all its challenges, points beyond itself to a grander, divine fulfillment.