Exodus 22:21

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

You shall neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

American King James Version (AKJV)

You shall neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

American Standard Version (ASV)

And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

Do no wrong to a man from a strange country, and do not be hard on him; for you yourselves were living in a strange country, in the land of Egypt.

Webster's Revision

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

World English Bible

"You shall not wrong an alien, neither shall you oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

English Revised Version (ERV)

And a stranger shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Definitions for Exodus 22:21

Vex - To trouble; disturb.

Clarke's Exodus 22:21 Bible Commentary

Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him - This was not only a very humane law, but it was also the offspring of a sound policy: "Do not vex a stranger; remember ye were strangers. Do not oppress a stranger; remember ye were oppressed. Therefore do unto all men as ye would they should do to you." It was the produce of a sound policy: "Let strangers be well treated among you, and many will come to take refuge among you, and thus the strength of your country will be increased. If refugees of this kind be treated well, they will become proselytes to your religion, and thus their souls may be saved." In every point of view, therefore, justice, humanity, sound policy, and religion, say. Neither vex nor oppress a stranger.

Barnes's Exodus 22:21 Bible Commentary

A stranger - See Exodus 20:10 note.

Wesley's Exodus 22:21 Bible Commentary

22:21 A stranger must not be abused, not wronged in judgment by the magistrates, not imposed upon in contracts, nor any advantage taken of his ignorance or necessity, no, nor must he be taunted, or upbraided with his being a stranger; for all these were vexations. For ye were strangers in Egypt - And knew what it was to be vexed and oppressed there. Those that have themselves been in poverty and distress, if Providence enrich and enlarge them, ought to shew a particular tenderness towards those that are now in such circumstances as they were in formerly, now doing to them as they then wished to be done by.