Deuteronomy 23:19-25

19 "1You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest
20 "2You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that 3the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.
21 "4When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you
22 "However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you.
23 "You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.
24 "When you enter your neighbor's vineyard, then you may eat grapes until you are fully satisfied, but you shall not put any in your basket.
25 "5When you enter your neighbor's standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor's standing grain.

Deuteronomy 23:19-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 23

Orders are here given to restrain certain persons from entering into the congregation of the Lord, De 23:1-8, and to take care that there be no unclean person in the camp, or any indecent thing done in it, De 23:9-14, to protect fugitive servants, and not deliver them up to their masters, De 23:15,16 not to suffer a filthy person to be among them, or any filthy thing to be brought into the house of God for a vow, De 23:17,18, then follow some laws against usury, and for the payment of vows, De 23:19-23, and the chapter is concluded with some directions how to behave in a neighbour's vineyard, or standing corn, De 23:24,25.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37; Nehemiah 5:2-7; Psalms 15:5
  • 2. Deuteronomy 28:12
  • 3. Deuteronomy 15:10
  • 4. Numbers 30:1, 2; Job 22:27; Psalms 61:8; Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5; Matthew 5:33
  • 5. Matthew 12:1; Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1

Footnotes 8

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