Israel recognised two general categories of outsiders: those who lived outside Israel, usually referred to as “the nations” or “the Gentiles”, and foreigners resident within Israel's boundaries. The latter, usually referred to as “aliens”, were given considerable privileges under the covenant between God and Israel.
Israel's attitude to the Gentiles as outsiders
The nations as outsiders
Leviticus 20:26; Nehemiah 1:8; Psalm 2:1, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 106:35; Hosea 7:8; Joel 2:17
The conversion of the Gentiles foretold
Isaiah 60:3 See also Genesis 22:18; Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 9:2; Hosea 2:23
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Israel's mission to the Gentiles was fulfilled in Jesus Christ
Acts 13:47 See also Isaiah 49:6; Luke 2:32; Acts 28:28; Romans 11:11; Ephesians 3:6
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Jesus Christ calls both Jew and Gentile
John 10:16 See also Acts 13:47–48; Romans 9:24–26; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 2 Timothy 4:17
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Israel's attitude to aliens as outsiders
Aliens are to be treated as members of the people of God
Exodus 23:9 See also Deuteronomy 29:9–15, Deuteronomy 31:12; Joshua 8:33–35
Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Aliens are protected by God
The LORD protects foreigners; He sustains the fatherless and the widow, but the ways of the wicked He frustrates.
Aliens must not be oppressed
Jeremiah 22:3 See also Jeremiah 7:2–7; Ezekiel 22:29; Zechariah 7:9–10
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Aliens may share in Israel's worship
Exodus 12:17–20, Exodus 12:43–49; Leviticus 22:17–19; Deuteronomy 16:13–15
The Samaritans as outsiders in Israel in NT times
John 4:9 By including Samaritans in his ministry, Jesus Christ demonstrated his concern for those who were treated as outsiders by society. See also Luke 10:33, Luke 17:16; John 4:7
“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Christians are compared to aliens in the world
Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
The witness of believers to outsiders
Colossians 4:5 See also Mark 4:11; 1 Corinthians 5:12–13; 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 3:7
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.