Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall not lend on interest to your brother; interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest.
- BSB Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan.
- ESV “You shall not charge interest on loans to your brother, interest on money, interest on food, interest on anything that is lent for interest.
- NKJV “You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest.
- NASB “You are not to charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned on interest.
- NLT “Do not charge interest on the loans you make to a fellow Israelite, whether you loan money, or food, or anything else.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Israelites must not charge interest to a fellow Israelite on money, food, or anything lent. Generosity, not profit, was to mark dealings among God's people.
Overview
Lending at interest to a needy brother would exploit his hardship, so it was prohibited within the covenant community to foster compassion and mutual care. This law protected the poor from debt-driven oppression. It reflects God's concern for the vulnerable and calls His people to generosity, a kindness ultimately rooted in the gracious giving of God Himself in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 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.
- Lev 25:35–37And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
- Ps 15:5He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
- Ezek 18:13Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
- Ezek 18:7–8And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
- Ezek 22:12In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
- Luke 6:34–35And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
- Ezek 18:16–18Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
- Neh 5:1–7And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
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 23:19 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.