Deuteronomy 24:17

17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger nor of the fatherless, neither shalt thou take away the widow’s raiment for a pledge.

Deuteronomy 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Deuteronomy 24:17 In-Context

15 But thou shalt pay him the price of his labour the same day, before the going down of the sun, because he is poor, and with it maintaineth his life: lest he cry against thee to the Lord, and it be reputed to thee for a sin.

16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children for the fathers, but every one shall die for his own sin,

17 Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger nor of the fatherless, neither shalt thou take away the widow’s raiment for a pledge.

18 Remember that thou wast a slave in Egypt, and the Lord thy God delivered thee from thence. Therefore I command thee to do this thing.

19 When thou hast reaped the corn in thy field, and hast forgot and left a sheaf, thou shalt not return to take it away: but thou shalt suffer the stranger, and the fatherless and the widow to take it away: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works of thy hands.