Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;
Parallel translations
- WEB Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release.
- BSB You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.
- NKJV Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother,
- NASB From a foreigner you may require it, but your hand shall forgive whatever of yours is with your brother.
- NLT This release from debt, however, applies only to your fellow Israelites—not to the foreigners living among you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Debts could still be collected from foreigners, but loans to fellow Israelites were to be released. The release was a special covenant mercy within God's family.
Overview
The distinction here is not ethnic hostility but covenant economics: the sabbatical release was a benefit of belonging to Israel's covenant community. Foreigners conducting commercial business operated under ordinary terms. The principle that special care belongs first to the household of faith echoes in Paul's call to do good to all, especially fellow believers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Deut 23:20Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
- John 8:35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
- Matt 17:25–26He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
- Exod 22:25If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
- 1 Cor 6:6–7But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
- Gal 6:10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 15:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.