Deuteronomy 23:19

19 "{You shall not charge your brother interest on money}, interest on food, or interest on anything that one could lend on interest

Deuteronomy 23:19 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:19

Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother
One of the same nation and religion, and who is in poor and necessitous circumstances, and wants either food for himself and family, or money to carry on his husbandry, till such times as the fruits of his ground will bring him in a sufficiency for his support, and the payment of what he borrows, and which is to be lent him without any interest: as the Jews were chiefly employed in husbandry, and not merchandise, they had but little occasion to borrow, and when they did could not afford to pay interest, as persons concerned in merchandise, whose gains are great, are able to do; and it is but reasonable that such persons should; but that the Israelites, when poor and in distress, might not be bowed down under their burdens, this law is made for their relief:

usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything that is lent
upon usury;
this takes in all sorts of usury, whether what is lent be money or food, or anything else, no interest was to be taken for it; (See Gill on Leviticus 25:36); (See Gill on Leviticus 25:37).

Deuteronomy 23:19 In-Context

17 "No woman {of Israel} shall be a temple prostitute, and no man {of Israel} shall be a male shrine prostitute.
18 You may not bring the {hire} of a prostitute or {the earnings of a male prostitute} [into] the house of Yahweh your God, for any vow offerings, because {both} are a detestable thing to Yahweh your God.
19 "{You shall not charge your brother interest on money}, interest on food, or interest on anything that one could lend on interest
20 You may lend on interest to the foreigner, but to your countryman you may not lend on interest, so that Yahweh your God may bless you {in all your undertakings} in {the land where you are going}, {in order to take possession of it}.
21 "{When you make a vow} to Yahweh your God, you shall not postpone {fulfillment of it}, [for] certainly Yahweh your God shall require it from you and [if postponed] {you will incur guilt}.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Literally "You shall not lend on interest to your brother, interest of money"
  • [b]. Hebrew "of"
  • [c]. Hebrew "of"
  • [d]. Or "can lend"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.