# foreigner, foreign, alien #

## 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." 

* 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.
* 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 02:17-18](en/tn/2ch/help/02/17)
* [Acts 07:29-30](en/tn/act/help/07/29)
* [Deuteronomy 01:15-16](en/tn/deu/help/01/15)
* [Genesis 15:12-13](en/tn/gen/help/15/12)
* [Genesis 17:24-27](en/tn/gen/help/17/24)
* [Luke 17:17-19](en/tn/luk/help/17/17)
* [Matthew 17:24-25](en/tn/mat/help/17/24)