Immigration is a topic that has stirred much debate in modern society, yet the Bible provides timeless guidance on how we should approach those who come from other lands. Whether as strangers, refugees, or sojourners, the Bible calls for compassion, justice, and love toward the immigrant, emphasizing that all people are made in God‘s image and are deserving of kindness and dignity.
Here are 25 Bible verses that offer valuable insights and perspectives on immigration and how God views strangers and sojourners among us.
25 Bible Verses About Immigration
1. Leviticus 19:34
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
This verse highlights God’s command to treat immigrants with the same love and respect we would show to our fellow citizens, remembering that Israel too was once a foreign people in Egypt.
2. Exodus 22:21
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
This command, rooted in Israel’s own experience as immigrants in Egypt, is a reminder to treat foreigners with kindness and fairness.
3. Deuteronomy 10:19
“And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.”
God calls His people to love foreigners, a duty rooted in empathy for the struggles immigrants face and remembering their own history.
4. Deuteronomy 24:17-18
“Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.”
God urges His people to ensure fair treatment for foreigners, and He calls them to remember their own deliverance from slavery as a motivation to act justly.
5. Leviticus 19:33-34
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
The repetition of the command to treat foreigners with love and justice underscores the importance of these principles in God’s law.
6. Matthew 25:35-40
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Jesus calls His followers to care for the “stranger” among them, emphasizing hospitality and kindness to those who are marginalized, including immigrants.
7. Matthew 2:13-15
“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.”
Even Jesus’ family experienced the necessity of immigration for safety. This story reflects the importance of protecting and providing refuge for those fleeing danger.
8. Luke 10:30-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan)
“In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.'”
While not directly about immigration, the Good Samaritan story illustrates how we should extend compassion to those in need, including strangers and those from different backgrounds.
9. Genesis 12:1-3
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.'”
God calls Abram (later Abraham) to leave his home country and become a foreigner in a new land, setting an example of both the blessings and challenges that come with moving and settling in a foreign place.
10. Ruth 2:10
“At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, ‘Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?'”
Ruth, a foreigner, humbly acknowledges the favor shown to her, emphasizing that God’s kindness is extended to those from outside the nation.
11. Psalm 146:9
“The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”
This verse highlights God’s special care for immigrants, widows, and orphans, reminding us that God is a protector of the vulnerable.
12. Isaiah 56:6-8
“And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.”
This passage reassures immigrants and foreigners that they are welcomed into God’s community if they follow His ways, emphasizing inclusivity in God’s kingdom.
13. Jeremiah 7:6
“If you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm.”
Here, God’s people are warned against oppressing the foreigner, fatherless, and widow, calling for justice and compassion toward those who are marginalized.
14. Zechariah 7:10
“Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.”
The emphasis on protecting the foreigner is clear, as they are often vulnerable and in need of justice and care.
15. Matthew 7:12
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
While not specifically about immigration, this verse captures the essence of how we should treat others, including immigrants—by showing them the same kindness we wish for ourselves.
16. Romans 12:13
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
The apostle Paul encourages believers to be hospitable, which includes offering kindness and support to immigrants who are in need.
17. Hebrews 13:2
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
This verse highlights the importance of welcoming strangers and foreigners, noting that our kindness could have greater significance than we realize.
18. 1 Peter 4:9
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Peter reminds the believers to practice hospitality, a command that certainly includes welcoming immigrants and foreigners with open arms.
19. Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Jesus’ mission of salvation was to seek those who are lost, and this includes those who may feel isolated or marginalized, such as immigrants.
20. Acts 17:26-27
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
God is sovereign over the nations and the migration of people. The passage emphasizes that God’s plan involves the movement of people across borders to fulfill His purpose.
21. Philippians 2:4
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
This verse calls us to consider the needs of others, including immigrants, and to act with compassion and empathy for them.
22. 1 John 3:17
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
This verse challenges us to act with compassion and mercy towards those in need, including immigrants.
23. Proverbs 31:8-9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
This passage encourages us to speak up for those who are vulnerable, including immigrants who may be voiceless or oppressed.
24. Psalm 82:3
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.”
God commands His people to defend the oppressed, which includes advocating for the rights and welfare of immigrants.
25. Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
Jesus came to bring justice and freedom to all people, including those oppressed or marginalized, such as immigrants.
Conclusion
The Bible teaches us to love the stranger, to act justly, and to care for those who are marginalized. These 25 Bible verses provide clear guidance for how believers should view immigration and treat immigrants with dignity, respect, and compassion. As we reflect on these Scriptures, may we strive to embody the love and justice that God commands, ensuring that all people—regardless of nationality—are welcomed as neighbors and treated as brothers and sisters in Christ.
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