Leviticus 25:37

37 If you lend him money, you must not charge him interest. And you must not sell him food for more than it cost you.

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 " 'Suppose one of your own people becomes poor. And suppose he can't take care of himself. Then help him just as you would help an outsider or someone who is living among you for a while. In that way, the man who is poor can continue to live among you.
36 " 'Do not charge him interest of any kind. Instead, have respect for me. Then the man who has become poor can continue to live among you.
37 If you lend him money, you must not charge him interest. And you must not sell him food for more than it cost you.
38 " 'I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt. I did it to give you the land of Canaan. I wanted to be your God.
39 " 'Suppose one of your own people becomes poor. And suppose he sells himself to you. Then do not make him work as a slave.
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