Exodus 23:9

9 Und den Fremdling sollst du nicht bedrücken; ihr selbst wisset ja, wie es dem Fremdling zu Mute ist, denn Fremdlinge seid ihr im Lande Ägypten gewesen. -

Exodus 23:9 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:9

Also thou shall not oppress a stranger
As these were not to be vexed and oppressed in a private manner and by private men, see ( Exodus 22:21 ) so neither in a public manner, and in a public court of judicature, or by judges on the bench when their cause was before them, by not doing them justice, showing a partiality to those of their own nation against a stranger; whereas a stranger ought to have equal justice done him as a native, and the utmost care should be taken that he has no injury done him, and the rather because he is a stranger:

for ye know the heart of a stranger;
the fears he is possessed of, the inward distress of his soul, the anxiety of his mind, the tenderness of his heart, the workings of his passions, his grief and sorrow, and dejection of spirit: the Targum of Jonathan is,

``"the groaning of the soul of a stranger": this the Israelitish judges knew, having had a very late experience of it:''

seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt;
where they had been vexed and oppressed, brought into hard bondage, and groaned under it; and therefore it might be reasonably thought and expected that they would have a heart sympathizing with strangers, and use them well, and especially see that justice was done them, and no injury or oppression of any kind.

Exodus 23:9 In-Context

7 Von der Sache der Lüge sollst du dich fernhalten; und den Unschuldigen und Gerechten sollst du nicht töten, denn ich werde den Gesetzlosen nicht rechtfertigen.

8 Und kein Geschenk sollst du nehmen; denn das Geschenk blendet die Sehenden und verkehrt die Worte der Gerechten.

9 Und den Fremdling sollst du nicht bedrücken; ihr selbst wisset ja, wie es dem Fremdling zu Mute ist, denn Fremdlinge seid ihr im Lande Ägypten gewesen. -

10 Und sechs Jahre sollst du dein Land besäen und seinen Ertrag einsammeln;

11 aber im siebten sollst du es ruhen und liegen lassen, daß die Armen deines Volkes davon essen; und was sie übriglassen, soll das Getier des Feldes fressen. Desgleichen sollst du mit deinem Weinberge tun und mit deinem Olivenbaum. -