Leviticus 19:34
“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.”
What does Leviticus 19:34 mean?
God is calling his people to remember their own vulnerability and extend genuine compassion to immigrants living among them. The command to love strangers "as yourself" isn't sentimental, but practical: treat them with the same respect, fairness, and care you'd want if you were displaced and far from home. The reminder about Egypt is powerful, because the Israelites knew firsthand what it meant to be outsiders, to be vulnerable in a foreign land, to depend on the mercy of others. That shared human experience of displacement should transform how they treat anyone in a similar position. God's authority rests behind this command, making hospitality not just nice advice but a reflection of his character and his concern for the marginalized.