Deuteronomy 15:2-12

2 "This is the manner of remission: every creditor * * shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD'S remission has been proclaimed.

3 "¹From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.

4 "However, there will be no poor among you, since ²the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess,

5 if only you listen obediently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today.

6 "³For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

7 "If there is ⁴a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, ⁵you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

8 but ⁶you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.

9 "Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, '⁷The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,' and ⁸your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; then he ⁹may cry to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin in you.

10 "You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because * ¹⁰for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

11 "¹¹For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore * I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'

12 "¹²If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free.

Deuteronomy 15:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 15

This chapter treats of a release of debts every seventh year, to which a blessing is promised if attended to, De 15:1-6, which seventh year of release should not hinder lending to a poor man in distress, even though it was nigh at hand, De 15:7-11 and of letting servants go free, whether manservant or maidservant, at the end of six years' servitude, De 15:12-15 but if unwilling to go, and desirous of staying, must have his ear bored through with an awl, and serve to the year of jubilee, De 15:16-18 and of sanctifying and eating the firstlings of the herd and flock where the Lord directs, De 15:19-23.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 23:20
• 2. Deuteronomy 28:8
• 3. Deuteronomy 28:12, 13
• 4. Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:11
• 5. 1 John 3:17
• 6. Matthew 5:42; Luke 6:34; Galatians 2:10
• 7. Deuteronomy 15:1
• 8. Matthew 20:15
• 9. Exodus 22:23; Deuteronomy 24:15; Job 34:28; Psalms 12:5; James 5:4
• 10. Deuteronomy 14:29; Psalms 41:1; Proverbs 22:9
• 11. Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:7; John 12:8
• 12. Exodus 21:2-6; Leviticus 25:39-43; Jeremiah 34:14

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "gates"
• [b] Lit "word"
• [c] Lit "the putting forth of your hand"
• [d] Lit "in the midst of"
• [e] Lit "brother"
• [f] Lit "free from you"