Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother,
Parallel translations
- WEB Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release.
- KJV Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;
- BSB You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.
- 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 23:20You may lend on interest to a foreigner; but to your brother you shall not lend on interest, that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land where you go in to possess it.
- John 8:35A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.
- Matt 17:25–26He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?”
- Exod 22:25“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not charge him interest.
- 1 Cor 6:6–7But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers!
- Gal 6:10So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the 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.