Deuteronomy 10:18
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deuteronomy 10:18 (KJV)
Context
Deuteronomy records Moses’ final speeches to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. In chapter 10, Moses recalls how God gave him the second set of stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. He also reminds the people of God’s covenant and His holy character.
Meaning
The verse declares that God “doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow.” In ancient times, orphans and widows had no one to defend their rights in court or provide for them. When God executes judgment for them, He actively secures justice and protects them. The verse also says God “loveth the stranger.” A stranger, or foreigner, lived among Israel without the usual family or land rights. God’s love is not a distant feeling; it is practical. He gives the stranger food and clothing, meeting basic needs.
Biblical connections
This verse follows Deuteronomy 10:17, which calls God “God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible,” who shows no partiality and takes no bribe. His greatness appears precisely in His care for the powerless. Psalm 68:5 calls God “a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows.” The next verse, Deuteronomy 10:19, commands Israel to “love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Thus, God’s justice and love are rooted in His covenant faithfulness.
Application
God’s people are called to reflect His character. Just as He defends the fatherless, the widow, and the stranger, believers must show compassion and justice to the vulnerable in their communities. This includes providing food and clothing, but also advocating for their rights. The command to love the stranger reminds Israel—and us—that we were once outsiders in need of grace. True worship of God includes imitating His compassionate justice.
Reflection
God’s love is active and tangible. He does not merely feel pity; He acts to defend and provide. This verse reveals a God who is both mighty and merciful. For the Christian, it points to the heart of God shown in Christ, who welcomed the outcast and cared for the needy. As followers of Christ, we are called to be agents of His justice and love in the world, serving those who have no human helper.
