FOREIGNER (נָכְרִי, H5799, תּﯴשָׁב, H9369, גֵּר, H1731; ἀλλότριος, ἀλλογενής. A “non-citizen,” roughly equivalent to an “alien,” dwelling in a country either as a temporary guest, perhaps for purposes of trade, or as a permanent resident alien). The three Heb. words which refer to foreigners are tr. in a variety of ways—foreigner, alien, stranger, sojourner—and are practically indistinguishable in meaning. Nokrĩ, rendered “foreigner” in the RSV, is in the KJV so tr. only twice (Deut 15:3; Obad 11); usually the KJV trs. it “alien” (Deut 14:21; Job 19:15; Ps 69:8; Lam 5:2) or “stranger” (Gen 15:13; Exod 2:22). Gēr and tōshāb are sometimes used together in the same passage with no apparent difference in meaning (Lev 25:35; 1 Chron 29:15; Ps 39:12). A whole clan or tribe might be sojourners in Israel, as e.g. the Gibeonites (Josh 9) and the Beerothites (2 Sam 4:2). Solomon’s census shows that the number of aliens in the land of Israel was quite considerable (2 Chron 2:17).

The word “foreigner” and its equivalents was applied not only to non-Israelites residing in Pal. more or less permanently, but also to Israelites making their home for a time in other lands (Gen 23:4; 26:3; 47:4; Exod 2:22; Ruth 1:1).

Foreigners in Israel enjoyed certain limited religious and civic privileges and were subject to certain laws. They could offer sacrifices (Lev 17:8; 22:18, 19), but were not permitted to enter the sanctuary unless they were circumcised (Ezek 44:9). They could take part in the three great annual religious festivals attended by all Israelite males (Deut 16:11, 14). They were not permitted to eat of the Passover unless they were circumcised (Exod 12:43, 48), and the Passover prohibition of the use of leaven applied also to them (Exod 12:19). Like the Israelites, they were forbidden to work on the Sabbath and on the Day of Atonement (Exod 20:10; 23:12; Lev 16:19; Deut 5:14); and like them also they were stoned to death for reviling or blaspheming God’s name (Lev 24:16; Num 15:30). They heard the law read to all the people in the Sabbatical year (Deut 31:10-13).

There was one law for the foreigner and the native (Exod 12:49; Lev 24:22), and in legal actions they were entitled to the same justice as the Israelites (Deut 1:16) and were liable to the same penalties (Lev 20:2; 24:16, 22). Israelites were warned not to oppress foreigners, since they themselves were once strangers in the land of Egypt (Exod 22:21; 23:9; Lev 19:33, 34). Foreigners were to be loved and treated like native Israelites (Lev 19:34; Deut 10:19), for God loves them (Deut 10:18) and watches over them (Ps 146:9; Mal 3:5). Needy foreigners were to be given assistance (Num 35:15; Deut 10:19). They were to share in the special triennial tithe (Deut 14:29) and in the produce of the Sabbatical year (Lev 25:6), as well as in the gleanings of the olives, grapes, and grain at the time of harvest (Lev 19:10; 23:22; Deut 24:19-21). They were entitled to asylum in the cities of refuge (Num 35:15; Josh 20:9). It was forbidden to oppress them when they labored as hired servants (Deut 24:14).

Like Israelites, they were forbidden to eat blood (Lev 17:10, 12), but, unlike them, they might eat animals that had died a natural death (Deut 14:21). Israelite laws of sexual morality applied to them as well (Lev 18:26). Although there were certain prohibitions of marriage between them and Israelites, the OT contains many instances of marriage between them (Gen 34:14; Exod 34:12, 16; Deut 7:3; Josh 23:12).

Foreigners naturally suffered some disabilities. They could not take part in the deliberations of the clan, tribe, or nation. The law prohibited a foreigner from becoming a king of Israel (Deut 17:15). They had to pay interest for money they borrowed (Deut 15:3; 23:20); and when, during the Year of Jubilee the debts of Israelites were cancelled, theirs were not (Deut 15:3), and when Heb. slaves were freed, they remained in bondage (Lev 25:45, 46).

Ezekiel, however, foresaw the time in the Messianic age when they would share in all the blessings of the land with God’s own people (Ezek 47:22).