Exodus 23:9

Gereviseerde Lutherse Vertaling

Gij zult de vreemdelingen niet onderdrukken; want gij kent het hart der vreemdelingen, dewijl gij ook vreemdelingen geweest zijt in Egypteland.

Parallel Translations

Gereviseerde Leidse Vertaling
Den vreemde zult gij niet verdrukken; gijzelf weet, hoe het een vreemdeling te moede is, daar gij vreemdelingen in Egypteland geweest zijt.

Staten Vertaling
Gij zult ook den vreemdeling niet onderdrukken; want gij kent het gemoed des vreemdelings, dewijl gij vreemdelingen geweest zijt in Egypteland.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thou shalt not: Exodus 21:21, Deuteronomy 10:19, Deuteronomy 24:14-18, Deuteronomy 27:19, Psalms 94:6, Ezekiel 22:7

ye know: Matthew 18:33, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 2:18

heart: Heb. soul

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:13 - thy Exodus 20:10 - thy stranger Exodus 22:21 - vex a stranger Leviticus 19:33 - And if Leviticus 25:35 - a stranger Deuteronomy 1:16 - the stranger Deuteronomy 23:7 - because thou Deuteronomy 23:16 - thou shalt not Deuteronomy 24:17 - pervert Ezekiel 18:7 - hath not Ezekiel 22:29 - oppressed Zechariah 7:10 - oppress Hebrews 4:15 - we have

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Four precepts evidently addressed to those in authority as judges:

(a) To do justice to the poor. ComparingExodus 23:6; Exodus 23:6 with Exodus 23:3, it was the part of the judge to defend the poor against the oppression of the rich, and the part of the witness to take care lest his feelings of natural pity should tempt him to falsify evidence.

(b) To be cautious of inflicting capital punishment on one whose guilt was not clearly proved. A doubtful case was rather to be left to God Himself, who would “not justify the wicked,” nor suffer him to go unpunished though he might be acquitted by an earthly tribunal. Exodus 23:7.

(c) To take no bribe or present which might in any way pervert judgment Exodus 23:8; compare Num 16:15; 1 Samuel 12:3; Acts 26:26.

(d) To vindicate the rights of the stranger Exodus 23:9 - rather, the foreigner. (Exodus 20:10 note.) This verse is a repetition of Exodus 22:21, but the precept is there addressed to the people at large, while it is here addressed to the judges in reference to their official duties. The caution was perpetually necessary. Compare Ezekiel 22:7; Malachi 3:5. The word rendered “heart” is more strictly “soul,” and would be better represented here by feelings.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 23:9. Ye know the heart of a stranger — Having been strangers yourselves, under severe, long continued, and cruel oppression, ye know the fears, cares, anxieties, and dismal forebodings which the heart of a stranger feels. What a forcible appeal to humanity and compassion!