“Do not charge interest on the loans you make to a fellow Israelite, whether you loan money, or food, or anything else.
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.
- KJV Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
- 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.
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 22:25“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.
- Lev 25:35–37“‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you; then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident.
- Ps 15:5he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
- Ezek 18:13has lent on interest, and has taken increase; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood shall be on him.
- Ezek 18:7–8and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;
- Ezek 22:12In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,” says the Lord Yahweh.
- Luke 6:34–35If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much.
- Ezek 18:16–18neither has wronged any, has not taken anything to pledge, neither has taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;
- Neh 5:1–7Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers 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.