Leviticus 25:37

37 Don't lend him money for interest, and don't try to make a profit from the food he buys.

Leviticus 25:37 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 25:37

Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury
Lend him money, expecting and insisting upon a large interest for it; this is to be understood of persons in poor and necessitous circumstances, of which the text only speaks; otherwise, if persons borrow money to gain by it, to carry on a greater trade, or to make purchase with it, it is but reasonable that the lender should have a share of profit arising from thence: nor lend him thy victuals for increase;
by which it should seem that those two words, used in ( Leviticus 25:36 ) , though in the main they signify the same thing, yet may be distinguished, the one as concerning money, the other food; and which latter is not to be given by way of loan to a person in want of it, but freely; as for instance, if a man gives a poor man a bushel of wheat, on condition he gives him two for it hereafter, this is lending or giving his victuals for increase.

Leviticus 25:37 In-Context

35 "'If anyone from your country becomes too poor to support himself, help him to live among you as you would a stranger or foreigner.
36 Do not charge him any interest on money you loan to him, but respect your God; let the poor live among you.
37 Don't lend him money for interest, and don't try to make a profit from the food he buys.
38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give the land of Canaan to you and to become your God.
39 "'If anyone from your country becomes very poor and sells himself as a slave to you, you must not make him work like a slave.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.