Bible Quotes on Immigration: 50 Inspiring Verses

The Bible offers profound guidance on how to treat immigrants and strangers. These verses provide a framework for compassion, justice, and welcome.

Welcoming the Stranger: Key Bible Verses

"When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him."

Author: Leviticus 19:33

Benefit: Emphasizes the importance of treating immigrants with respect and fairness.

"The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Author: Leviticus 19:34

Benefit: Calls for empathy and love towards immigrants, reminding us of our shared history.

"For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing."

Author: Deuteronomy 10:17-18

Benefit: God's justice extends to protecting and providing for immigrants.

"Love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Author: Deuteronomy 10:19

Benefit: A direct command to love immigrants, rooted in the Israelites' own experience as foreigners.

"Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, or widow. And all the people shall say, Amen."

Author: Deuteronomy 27:19

Benefit: Condemns mistreatment and injustice towards vulnerable groups, including immigrants.

"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt."

Author: Exodus 22:21

Benefit: Reminds us to avoid repeating the oppression we ourselves experienced.

"You are also to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."

Author: Deuteronomy 10:19 (NLT)

Benefit: Highlights the personal connection and empathy we should feel toward immigrants.

"Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of one another."

Author: Zechariah 7:9-10

Benefit: Links justice for immigrants with mercy, compassion, and moral integrity.

"But the one who looks intently into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does."

Author: James 1:25

Benefit: Blessings come from actively living out God's law, which includes caring for immigrants.

Compassion and Care: Further Biblical Guidance

"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."

Author: Proverbs 31:8-9

Benefit: Encourages advocacy for the rights of vulnerable populations, including immigrants.

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"

Author: Matthew 25:40

Benefit: Treating immigrants with kindness is equated with serving Christ himself.

"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"

Author: James 2:15-16

Benefit: Faith requires action and providing for the material needs of others.

"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute."

Author: Psalm 82:3

Benefit: We are called to protect and defend the rights of those who are vulnerable.

"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."

Author: Isaiah 1:17

Benefit: Active pursuit of justice is a key component of living a righteous life.

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing."

Author: Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV)

Benefit: God's love and provision extends to immigrants.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for the homeless—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Author: Isaiah 58:6-7

Benefit: True righteousness involves addressing systemic injustice and caring for the marginalized.

"Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him."

Author: Proverbs 14:31

Benefit: Our treatment of the poor and needy reflects our reverence for God.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

Author: James 1:27

Benefit: Practical acts of service are an essential part of genuine faith.

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink."

Author: Proverbs 25:21

Benefit: Extend kindness and compassion even to those who may be considered enemies.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act."

Author: Proverbs 3:27

Benefit: We have a responsibility to help others when we are able to.

"Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."

Author: Luke 6:30

Benefit: Generosity and selflessness are hallmarks of Christian discipleship.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Author: Ephesians 4:32

Benefit: Kindness and forgiveness should characterize our relationships with all people.

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Author: Galatians 6:2

Benefit: Sharing in the struggles of others fulfills Christ's command to love one another.

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

Author: Romans 15:7

Benefit: Welcome and acceptance are modeled by Christ himself.

Love and Justice: Guiding Principles for Today

"The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked."

Author: Psalm 146:9

Benefit: God's protection extends to immigrants and the vulnerable.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Author: Micah 6:8

Benefit: Justice, mercy, and humility are essential aspects of a life pleasing to God.

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Author: Proverbs 31:8-9 (ESV)

Benefit: A call to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, including the poor and immigrants.

"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."

Author: Leviticus 19:15

Benefit: Calls for impartiality in judgment, regardless of social status.

"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..."

Author: Matthew 25:35

Benefit: Welcoming strangers is equated with welcoming Christ.

"Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

Author: Hebrews 13:3

Benefit: Encourages empathy and solidarity with those who are suffering injustice.

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Author: Galatians 3:28

Benefit: In Christ, all distinctions are broken down, and we are united as one family.

"Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Author: Philippians 2:4

Benefit: Encourages selflessness and consideration for the needs of others.

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

Author: Romans 12:9-10

Benefit: Genuine love leads to honoring and supporting one another.

"If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."

Author: 1 John 4:20

Benefit: Love for others is a direct reflection of our love for God.

"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need."

Author: 1 Timothy 5:3

Benefit: Providing support to vulnerable populations.

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

Author: Hebrews 13:2

Benefit: Welcoming strangers can bring unexpected blessings.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

Author: 1 Peter 4:10

Benefit: Use your gifts to help others.

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

Author: Proverbs 11:25

Benefit: Kindness brings reciprocal blessings.

"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern."

Author: Proverbs 29:7

Benefit: Righteousness involves a commitment to justice.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

Author: 2 Corinthians 8:9

Benefit: Reflecting Christ's self-sacrifice.

"Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."

Author: Romans 12:9 (NKJV)

Benefit: Genuine love is essential.

"But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Author: Hebrews 13:16

Benefit: Sharing and doing good pleases God.

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

Author: Matthew 6:14

Benefit: Forgiveness extends to all.

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."

Author: Proverbs 19:17

Benefit: Kindness will be rewarded.

These biblical teachings challenge us to act with compassion and justice towards immigrants, recognizing their inherent dignity and worth.