This word generally denotes a person from a foreign land residing in Palestine. Such persons enjoyed many privileges in common with the Jews, but still were separate from them. The relation of the Jews to strangers was regulated by special laws ( Deuteronomy 23:3 ; 24:14-21 ; 25:5 ; 26:10-13 ). A special signification is also sometimes attached to this word. In Genesis 23:4 it denotes one resident in a foreign land; Exodus 23:9 , one who is not a Jew; Numbers 3:10 , one who is not of the family of Aaron; Psalm 69:8 , an alien or an unknown person. The Jews were allowed to purchase strangers as slaves ( Leviticus 25:44,45 ), and to take usury from them ( Deuteronomy 23:20 ).
Source
- part_of
source-manifest/easton— Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)