Orphans

Orphans (Hebrew yatom, Greek orphanos) — fatherless children — are among the most consistently protected classes in biblical law and prophetic ethics. The Mosaic law repeatedly commands care for the fatherless: they were to share in the triennial tithe (Deuteronomy 14:29; 26:12), glean the harvest margins (Deuteronomy 24:19–21), and receive justice in the courts. Exploiting the fatherless was explicitly cursed (Deuteronomy 27:19) and listed among the sins that provoked God's judgment on Israel (Isaiah 1:23; Ezekiel 22:7).

God himself is described as a father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5) and the one who executes justice for the fatherless (Deuteronomy 10:18). The prophets made care for orphans a litmus test of genuine religion: Isaiah 1:17 commands defend the fatherless as part of learning to do good. James 1:27 defines pure religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress. Jesus uses the term orphans (orphanous) in John 14:18 to describe what he will not leave his disciples as: I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.