Deuteronomy 24:12

12 And if [he is] a needy man, you shall not sleep in his 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 a loan to your neighbor, a loan of any kind, you shall not go into his house {to take his pledge}.

11 You shall wait outside, and the man [to] whom you [are] lending, he shall bring the pledge outside to you.

12 And if [he is] a needy man, you shall not sleep in his pledge.

13 You shall certainly return the pledge to him {as the sun sets}, so that he may sleep in his cloak and may bless you, and it shall be [considered] righteousness {on your behalf} {before} Yahweh your God.

14 "You shall not exploit a hired worker, [who is] needy and poor, from among your fellow men or from [among] your aliens who are in your land [and] in your {towns}.

Footnotes

• [a] "His pledge" refers to "a garment given as pledge"