Deuteronomy 24:12

12 If the person is poor, you shall not sleep in the garment given you as the pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:12

And if the man [be] poor
Which may be thought to be the case of everyone that gives pledges for a debt he owes, or a sum of money he borrows; yet there might be a difference: some might be so very destitute of goods and raiment in their houses, that whatever they parted with was distressing to them, and they could not well do without it:

thou shalt not sleep with his pledge;
nor keep it a night; but deliver it to him, before he went to bed, and laid himself down to sleep.

Deuteronomy 24:12 In-Context

10 When you make your neighbor a loan of any kind, you shall not go into the house to take the pledge.

11 You shall wait outside, while the person to whom you are making the loan brings the pledge out to you.

12 If the person is poor, you shall not sleep in the garment given you as the pledge.

13 You shall give the pledge back by sunset, so that your neighbor may sleep in the cloak and bless you; and it will be to your credit before the Lord your God.

14 You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb lacks [the garment given you as]