alien, foreigner, sojourn

Definition

The term “foreigner” refers to a person living in a country that is not his own. Another name for a foreigner is an “alien.” To sojourn is to live temporarily as a foreigner.

• In the Old Testament, this term especially refers to anyone who came from a different people group than the people he was living among.
• A foreigner is also a person whose language and culture is different from those of a particular region.
• For example, when Naomi and her family moved to Moab, they were foreigners there. When Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth later moved to Israel, Ruth was called a “foreigner” there because she was not originally from Israel.
• A sojourner is another word for a temporary foreign resident.
• The apostle Paul told the Ephesians that before they knew Christ, they were “foreigners” to God’s covenant.
• Sometimes “foreigner” is translated as “stranger,” but it should not refer only to someone who is unfamiliar or unknown.

Bible References

• 2 Chronicles 2:17
• Acts 7:29-30
• Deuteronomy 1:15-16
• Genesis 15:12-13
• Genesis 17:27
• Luke 17:18
• Matthew 17:24-25

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0312, H0628, H0776, H1471, H1481, H1616, H2114, H3937, H4033, H5236, H5237, H6154, H8453, G02410, G02450, G05260, G09150, G18540, G35810, G39270, G39410