Deuteronomy 15:1-2
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This command is not just about cancelling debts, but about preventing a specific kind of spiritual sickness: a grudging heart that sees the needy as a burden. The text emphasizes that this release should be enacted "at the end of every seven years," implying it should happen at the beginning of the seventh year, so that the poor can benefit from the relief throughout that year, not just at its very end.
“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD’s release has been proclaimed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter introduces a crucial aspect of the Mosaic Law: the "year of release." Building on earlier laws about rest for the land and Hebrew slaves, Moses now details the release of debts. This command isn't an isolated rule but part of a system designed to prevent extreme poverty and maintain economic balance within the community, especially for Israelites.
This wasn't just about getting out of debt; it was a fundamental part of Israel's covenant life. What did this 'release' truly signify?
The command for a 'release' every seven years, as stated in Deuteronomy 15:1, wasn't merely a financial reset. It was intrinsically linked to the Sabbatical year already established in earlier laws (Exodus 23, Leviticus 25).
A Year of Rest and Restoration:
This year involved not only the release of debts but also a rest for the land, preventing its overuse and reflecting God's provision. It was a deliberate practice to maintain a healthy balance within the community and the land itself.
Beyond Financial Relief:
While it offered a reprieve from financial burdens, its ultimate goal was to prevent extreme poverty and the oppressive concentration of wealth that could destabilize the nation. It aimed to preserve a sense of shared inheritance and communal well-being.
The law distinguishes between who must be shown release and who does not. What does this tell us about God's heart for His people and His perspective on others?
Deuteronomy 15:3 highlights a crucial distinction: 'Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release.' This wasn't about exclusion, but about the unique covenant relationship within Israel.
The Bonds of Brotherhood:
Ask a follow-up
For Israelites, debt release was a demonstration of the deep familial and covenantal ties they shared. It was an act of mercy and solidarity, preventing the exploitation of one member of the 'family' by another.
Wider Compassion:
While the direct release of debt applied primarily to fellow Israelites, the subsequent verses (like 15:11) emphasize an open hand to the poor and needy, suggesting a broader principle of compassion that extended beyond strict legal obligation, especially when not contradicted by the specific 'release' law for fellow Israelites.
This law wasn't just about outward actions; it was designed to shape the inner person. What 'heart attitude' did God desire?
The 'year of release' was more than a legal statute; it was a training ground for the heart. God knew that financial dealings could breed hardness, greed, and anxiety.
Guarding Against a Hard Heart:
Deuteronomy 15:7-9 warns against a 'wicked heart' that might withhold help as the seventh year approaches, thinking, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand.' This reveals that true generosity isn't just about following rules, but about actively combating selfish thoughts and intentions.
Trusting God's Blessing:
Verses like 15:4 and 15:10 assure Israel that practicing generosity, even at potential personal cost, would result in God's blessing. This called for deep trust in God's provision, understanding that He, not wealth accumulation, was their ultimate source of security.
Understand the original words
shemittah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the sabbatical year (shemitah) during which debts were canceled and land rested, symbolizing God's sovereign ownership of all things and His mercy toward His people. It reflects the principle of grace and the temporary nature of earthly burdens.
nasheh · Hebrew Noun
One who lends money or goods, often in a position of power. Biblically, those in a position to lend were commanded to act with compassion and justice, recognizing that all wealth ultimately belongs to God.
ach · Hebrew Noun
One who belongs to the same covenant community, sharing the same faith and standing before God. This relationship demands a high standard of brotherly love, fair treatment, and mutual support in times of need.
This passage, referenced by commentators, lays the groundwork for releasing Hebrew servants after a set period, paralleling the principle of release found in Deuteronomy 15.
Leviticus 25:4This verse speaks of the land resting in the seventh year, connecting to the 'year of release' in Deuteronomy and highlighting a broader theme of rest and release within the Israelite economy.
Nehemiah 10:31This verse shows the people of Israel renewing their covenant commitment to observe the Sabbatical year by releasing debts, demonstrating the ongoing importance of this principle in their history.
Isaiah 58:3This prophetic passage rebukes the people for not truly observing their Sabbaths and acts of release, showing how the spirit of Deuteronomy 15 was often missed in practice.
2 Corinthians 9:7This New Testament verse echoes the sentiment found in Deuteronomy 15:10, emphasizing that God loves a cheerful giver, which is a core principle behind the commands for release and generosity.
clarkeDeuteronomy 15:1: "At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release."
At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release - For an explanation of many things in this chapter, see the notes on Exodus 21 (note), Exodus 23 (note), and Leviticus 25 (note).
calvinDeuteronomy 15:1-11: "At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release."
And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbor, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord's release.
Haec autem est ratio remissionis, ut remittat omnis qui mutuum dederit manu sua, id quod mutuum dederit amico suo: non reposcet ab amico suo, aut a fratre suo, quia proclamata est remissio Jehovae.
3.…
This command is not just about cancelling debts, but about preventing a specific kind of spiritual sickness: a grudging heart that sees the needy as a burden. The text emphasizes that this release should be enacted "at the end of every seven years," implying it should happen at the beginning of the seventh year, so that the poor can benefit from the relief throughout that year, not just at its very end.
This chapter introduces a crucial aspect of the Mosaic Law: the "year of release." Building on earlier laws about rest for the land and Hebrew slaves, Moses now details the release of debts. This command isn't an isolated rule but part of a system designed to prevent extreme poverty and maintain economic balance within the community, especially for Israelites.
This chapter introduces a crucial aspect of the Mosaic Law: the "year of release." Building on earlier laws about rest for the land and Hebrew slaves, Moses now details the release of debts. This command isn't an isolated rule but part of a system designed to prevent extreme poverty and maintain economic balance within the community, especially for Israelites.
"“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD’s releas…" — This command is not just about cancelling debts, but about preventing a specific kind of spiritual sickness: a grudging heart that sees the needy as a burden. The text emphasizes that this release sh…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
