Deuteronomy 15:1-9

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.
7 If [there] is a poor [person] among you from [among] one of your brothers in one of your {towns} that Yahweh your God [is] giving to you, you shall not harden your heart, and you shall not shut your hand toward {your brother who is poor}.
8 But you shall certainly open your hand for him, and {you shall willingly lend} [to] him enough to meet his need, {whatever it is}.
9 {Take care} so that there will not be {a thought of wickedness} in your heart, {saying}, 'The seventh year, the year of the remission of debt is near,' {and you view your needy neighbor with hostility}, and [so] you [do] not give to him, and he might cry [out] against you to Yahweh, and {you would incur guilt against yourself}.

Deuteronomy 15:1-9 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 19

  • [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"
  • [j]. Literally "gates"
  • [k]. Literally "from among your brothers, the poor one"
  • [l]. Literally "lending you shall lend"
  • [m]. Literally "whatever is lacking for him"
  • [n]. Literally "Watch for yourself"
  • [o]. Hebrew "it"
  • [p]. Literally "a thing in your heart wickedness"
  • [q]. Literally "to say"
  • [r]. Literally "is bad your eye against your brother who is needy"
  • [s]. Literally "it will be against you a sin"
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