Deuteronomy 15:1-6

1 "At the end of seven years you shall grant [a] remission of debt.

2 And this [is] the manner of the remission of debt: every {creditor} shall remit his claim that he holds against his neighbor, and he shall not exact payment [from] his brother because there [a] remission of debt has been proclaimed unto Yahweh.

3 [With respect to] the foreigner you may exact payment, but {you must remit} what shall be [owed] to you [with respect to] your brother.

4 Nevertheless, there shall not be among you a poor [person], because Yahweh will certainly bless you in the land that Yahweh your God [is] giving to you [as] an inheritance, to take possession of it.

5 If only you listen well to the voice of Yahweh your God {by observing diligently} all of these commandments that I [am] commanding you {today}.

6 When Yahweh your God has blessed you, [just] as he {promised} to you, then you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow [from them], and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

Deuteronomy 15:1-6 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "owner of the loan of his hand"
• [b]. Hebrew "it"
• [c]. Hebrew "for"
• [d]. Literally "your hand shall remit"
• [e]. Hebrew "it"
• [f]. Literally "to observe [so as] to do"
• [g]. Hebrew "commandment"
• [h]. Literally "the day"
• [i]. Literally "spoke"