Exodus 22:26

26 If your neighbor gives you his coat as a promise for the money he owes you, you must give it back to him by sunset,

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 And I will be very angry and kill you in war. Then your wives will become widows, and your children will become orphans.
25 "If you lend money to one of my people who is poor, do not treat him as a moneylender would. Charge him nothing for using your money.
26 If your neighbor gives you his coat as a promise for the money he owes you, you must give it back to him by sunset,
27 because it is the only cover to keep his body warm. He has nothing else to sleep in. If he cries out to me for help, I will listen, because I am merciful.
28 "You must not speak against God or curse a leader of your people.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.