Refugees
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Definition and Context:
Refugees are individuals who are forced to flee their homeland due to persecution, war, or natural disaster. In the biblical context, refugees are often depicted as sojourners, exiles, or strangers in a foreign land. The Bible provides numerous accounts of individuals and groups who experienced displacement and sought refuge, offering insights into God's perspective on hospitality, compassion, and justice.

Biblical Examples of Refugees:

1. Abraham and Sarah:
Abraham, originally from Ur of the Chaldeans, was called by God to leave his homeland and journey to a land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1). During a famine, Abraham and Sarah sought refuge in Egypt (Genesis 12:10). This narrative highlights the theme of trusting God while living as a foreigner.

2. Jacob and His Family:
Jacob and his family became refugees when they moved to Egypt to escape famine in Canaan (Genesis 46:1-7). This migration set the stage for the Israelites' eventual enslavement and subsequent exodus.

3. Moses:
Moses fled Egypt to Midian after killing an Egyptian, becoming a refugee in a foreign land (Exodus 2:15). His experience as a sojourner prepared him for his role in leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

4. The Israelites:
The Israelites' exodus from Egypt is one of the most significant refugee narratives in the Bible. They fled from slavery and oppression, guided by God to the Promised Land (Exodus 12:37-42). This journey underscores themes of deliverance and divine provision.

5. David:
David, before becoming king, was a refugee as he fled from King Saul's attempts to kill him. He sought refuge among the Philistines and in various wilderness locations (1 Samuel 21-27).

6. Elijah:
The prophet Elijah became a refugee when he fled from Queen Jezebel's wrath, seeking refuge in the wilderness and later in Zarephath (1 Kings 19:1-9).

7. Jesus and His Family:
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph became refugees when they fled to Egypt to escape King Herod's massacre of infants (Matthew 2:13-15). This event fulfilled the prophecy, "Out of Egypt I called My Son" (Hosea 11:1).

Biblical Teachings on Refugees:

1. Hospitality and Compassion:
The Bible consistently calls for the treatment of refugees with kindness and hospitality. Leviticus 19:34 states, "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt." This command reflects God's desire for His people to remember their own history of displacement and to act with empathy.

2. Justice and Protection:
Scripture emphasizes justice for the vulnerable, including refugees. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 declares, "He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt."

3. God as Refuge:
The Bible frequently describes God as a refuge for those in distress. Psalm 46:1 proclaims, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble." This imagery reassures believers of God's protection and care, even in the most challenging circumstances.

4. The Church's Role:
The New Testament encourages believers to extend hospitality and support to those in need. Hebrews 13:2 advises, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." This call to action reflects the early church's commitment to caring for the marginalized.

Conclusion:
The biblical narrative and teachings provide a framework for understanding the plight of refugees and the appropriate response from God's people. Through accounts of displacement and divine intervention, the Bible underscores the importance of compassion, justice, and hospitality toward those who seek refuge.
Strong's Hebrew
6412b. palet -- escaped one, fugitive
... 6412a, 6412b. palet. 6413 . escaped one, fugitive. Transliteration: palet
Short Definition: refugees. Word Origin from palat Definition ...
/hebrew/6412b.htm - 5k

6412a. palit -- escaped one, fugitive
... from palat Definition escaped one, fugitive NASB Word Usage escaped (1), fugitive
(1), fugitives (4), one escape (1), refugee (1), refugees (4), survivors (1 ...
/hebrew/6412a.htm - 5k

Library

Epistle vii. To Alcyson, Bishop of Corcyra.
... 234] Castrum Cassiopi, which appears to have been a fortress in the isle of Corcyra,
to which refugees from the mainland of Epirus had resorted in time of war. ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle vii to alcyson bishop.htm

The Age of Knox: the Formative Period of Presbyterian Worship.
... It had been required of the English refugees living at Frankfort, as a condition
of their being allowed to use for worship the French church of that town, that ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/johnston/presbyterian worship/chapter ii the age of.htm

The Founding of Herrnhut, 1722-1727.
... the mud. For the moment the refugees were sick at heart. "Where," said ... of God.".
The steward was quite concerned for the refugees. As he ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter iii the founding of.htm

Knox in the English Puritan Troubles at Frankfort: 1554-1555
... The consequences of the "Admonition" came home to Knox when English refugees in
Frankfort, impeded by him and others in the use of their Liturgy, accused him ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter vi knox in the.htm

Latitudinarian Churchmanship.
... imagined, mixed with feelings of apprehension. These refugees might be
only too grateful. Thinking that salvation was obtainable ...
/.../chapter v latitudinarian churchmanship.htm

A Period of Transition
... Though they received many refugees from Stuart conformity, the religious ties which
bound them to the English nonconformists were weakened, and still more so ...
/.../the development of religious liberty in connecticut/chapter v a period of.htm

Jer. 6:16 the Good Way.
... And, finally, it is a Christian tradition, that, after being dragged into Egypt
by the Jewish refugees, who fled there, he died the death of a martyr. ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter v jer 6 16 the.htm

The Second Awakening.
... "Logan County, when my father moved into it, was called Rogues' Harbor.' Here many
refugees from all parts of the Union fled to escape punishment or justice ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xiv the second awakening.htm

Lupus of Troyes.
... He collected the refugees from various places during Attila's devastations, and
established them as a colony in a secure mountain district, residing amongst ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/light in the dark places/lupus of troyes.htm

Return to Benares.
... We attended his service"it was the Lord's Day"and were delighted to see so many
present, several of whom we were told were refugees from Madagascar. ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xv return to benares.htm

Thesaurus
Refugees (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Refugees (6 Occurrences). Isaiah 16:3 Give wise
directions, make a decision; let your shade be as night ...
/r/refugees.htm - 8k

Tahpanhes (7 Occurrences)
... Tahpanhes being the nearest Egyptian town to Palestine, Jeremiah and the other Jewish
refugees would naturally flee there (43:7). It is not at all unlikely ...
/t/tahpanhes.htm - 14k

Gedaliah (31 Occurrences)
... Babylon. This assurance led to a general gathering around Gedaliah of refugees
from all the neighboring countries (Jeremiah 40:11, 12). ...
/g/gedaliah.htm - 26k

Refund (3 Occurrences)

/r/refund.htm - 7k

Papyrus (4 Occurrences)
... It is well known that some Jews had taken refuge in Egypt in 586 BC, taking the
prophet Jeremiah with them, and with some such band of refugees the Yeb colony ...
/p/papyrus.htm - 34k

Aquila (7 Occurrences)
... first in Corinth (Acts 18:2). Aquila was a native of Pontus, doubtless one of the
colony of Jews mentioned in Acts 2:9 1 Peter 1:1. They were refugees from the ...
/a/aquila.htm - 13k

Arvad (2 Occurrences)
... Tyre. It seems to have received the favor of the Seleucid kings of Syria
and enjoyed the right of asylum for political refugees. ...
/a/arvad.htm - 11k

Arvadites (1 Occurrence)
... Tyre. It seems to have received the favor of the Seleucid kings of Syria
and enjoyed the right of asylum for political refugees. ...
/a/arvadites.htm - 10k

Refuge (111 Occurrences)

/r/refuge.htm - 41k

Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)
... Its population includes some 32,000 Turks, 47,000 Jews (mostly the descendants
of refugees from Spain) and 16,000 Greeks and other Europeans. ...
/t/thessalonica.htm - 25k

Resources
How should Christians view refugees? | GotQuestions.org

Was Jesus a refugee? | GotQuestions.org

Government and Worldview ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Refugees (6 Occurrences)

Isaiah 16:3
Give wise directions, make a decision; let your shade be as night in full day: keep safe those who are in flight; do not give up the wandering ones.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 42:17
So shall it be with all the men who set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there: they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring on them.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 44:14
so that none of the remnant of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or be left, to return into the land of Judah, to which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return save such as shall escape.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 50:28
The voice of those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh our God, the vengeance of his temple.
(See NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 33:21
It happened in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one who had escaped out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, The city has been struck.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 33:22
Now the hand of Yahweh had been on me in the evening, before he who was escaped came; and he had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more mute.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Refugees

Related Terms

Tahpanhes (7 Occurrences)

Gedaliah (31 Occurrences)

Refund (3 Occurrences)

Papyrus (4 Occurrences)

Aquila (7 Occurrences)

Arvad (2 Occurrences)

Arvadites (1 Occurrence)

Refuge (111 Occurrences)

Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)

New (1850 Occurrences)

Testament (13 Occurrences)

Babylon (270 Occurrences)

Refugee Slaves: Laws Concerning
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