- orphans
- Children without parents. The Hebrews were exhorted to look after the fatherless (Exod. 22:22) for whom God particularly cared (Deut. 10:18; Ps. 146:9). Jeremiah rebuked those who violated this law (Jer. 5:28; cf. Ezek. 22:7); and the same care is expected of Christians (Jas. 1:27). Of all people, widows and orphans were most at risk in both OT and NT times. They turned for support to kings (Ps. 72:1–4, 12–14) but were often rebuffed (Jer. 5:28).
Dictionary of the Bible.