The Bible frequently addresses the care and treatment of the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, emphasizing God's compassion and justice for these vulnerable groups. These individuals often symbolize those who are marginalized and in need of protection and provision within society.

The Foreigner

In the Old Testament, the foreigner, or "sojourner," is someone who resides temporarily or permanently in a land not their own. The Israelites were commanded to treat foreigners with kindness and fairness, remembering their own history as strangers in Egypt. Leviticus 19:33-34 states, "When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

The law provided for the inclusion of foreigners in religious and social life, allowing them to participate in the Passover if they were circumcised (Exodus 12:48-49) and granting them access to the cities of refuge (Numbers 35:15). The prophets also echoed this call for justice, with Zechariah 7:10 admonishing, "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil in your hearts against one another."

The Fatherless

The fatherless, or orphans, are frequently mentioned in the context of God's special concern for those without parental protection. The Mosaic Law included provisions to ensure their welfare, such as the command in Deuteronomy 24:19-21 to leave behind gleanings in the field, olive trees, and vineyards for the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner.

God's character as a defender of the fatherless is highlighted in Psalm 68:5 , which describes Him as "a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation." The New Testament continues this theme, with James 1:27 defining pure and undefiled religion as "to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

The Widow

Widows in biblical times often faced economic and social vulnerability due to the loss of their husbands. The law provided specific protections for widows, such as the levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) and the prohibition against taking a widow's garment in pledge (Deuteronomy 24:17).

God's concern for widows is evident in passages like Exodus 22:22-24 , where He warns, "You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children fatherless."

In the New Testament, the early church took seriously the responsibility to care for widows, as seen in Acts 6:1-6, where the apostles appointed deacons to ensure fair distribution of food. Paul also provided guidelines for the support of widows in 1 Timothy 5:3-16, emphasizing the church's role in caring for those truly in need.

Throughout Scripture, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow are consistently portrayed as recipients of God's justice and mercy, serving as a reminder of His call for His people to reflect His character in their treatment of the vulnerable.