Devarim 24:17

17 Thou shalt not pervert the mishpat due the ger, nor of the yatom; nor take an almanah’s raiment to pledge;

Devarim 24:17 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:17

Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, [nor] of
the fatherless
Who are unable to defend themselves, and have but few, if any, to take their part; and therefore particular care should be taken by judges and civil magistrates to do them justice, or God will require it of them:

nor take a widow's raiment to pledge;
nor anything else, as her ox or cow, ( Job 24:3 ) ; according to the Jewish canons ^F18, of a widow, whether she is poor or rich, a pledge is not taken; the reason given for which is, that it would raise an ill suspicion, and cause an evil report of her among her neighbours ^F19; and which is suggested by the Targum of Jonathan

``neither shall any of you take for a pledge the raiment of a widow, lest wicked neighbours should arise, and bring an evil report upon her, when ye return the pledge unto her.''

But no doubt a poor widow is meant, and the design of the law is mercy to her, and that she might not be distressed by taking that from her she needed.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F18 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 9. sect. 13.
F19 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 9. sect. 13.

Devarim 24:17 In-Context

15 Each day thou shalt give him his wages, neither shall the shemesh go down upon it; for he is oni, and setteth his lev upon it; lest he cry against thee unto Hashem, and it be chet unto thee.

16 The avot shall not be put to death for the banim, neither shall the banim be put to death for the avot; every ish shall be put to death for his own chet.

17 Thou shalt not pervert the mishpat due the ger, nor of the yatom; nor take an almanah’s raiment to pledge;

18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast an eved in Mitzrayim, and Hashem Eloheicha redeemed thee thence; therefore I command thee to do this thing.

19 When thou cuttest down thine katzir in thy sadeh, and hast forgot an omer (sheaf) in the sadeh, thou shalt not go again to bring it back; it shall be for the ger, for the yatom (orphan), and for the almanah; that Hashem Eloheicha may bless thee in all the ma’aseh of thine hands.