Exodus 22:26

26 If you take your neighbor's coat as collateral, you are to restore it to him by sundown,

Exodus 22:26 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 22:26

If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge
So that it seems that the lender, though he might not impose usury on the borrower, or oblige him to pay interest for what he lent him, yet for the security of his money he might take his clothes, either his bed clothes or wearing apparel, or any instruments or goods of his; but when he did, he was bound to what follows:

thou shalt deliver it to him by that the sun goeth down;
the reason of which appears in the next verse, with respect to his bed clothes, should that be the pledge: but Jarchi interprets it, not of his nocturnal clothes, but of his apparel in the daytime, and paraphrases it thus,

``all the day thou shalt restore it to him until the setting of the sun; and when the sun is set, thou shalt return and take it until the morning of the morrow comes; the Scripture speaks of the covering of the day, of which there is no need at night;''

but rather night clothes are meant by what follows.

Exodus 22:26 In-Context

24 My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword - your own wives will be widows and your own children fatherless.
25 "If you loan money to one of my people who is poor, you are not to deal with him as would a creditor; and you are not to charge him interest.
26 If you take your neighbor's coat as collateral, you are to restore it to him by sundown,
27 because it is his only garment - he needs it to wrap his body; what else does he have in which to sleep? Moreover, if he cries out to me, I will listen; because I am compassionate.
28 "You are not to curse God, and you are not to curse a leader of your people.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.