Exodus 22:25-27
“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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{ "author": "Traditionally attributed to Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests it was compiled and edited by various sources over time.", "location": "Written likely from the plains of Moab, just before entering the Promised Land.", "dateTime": "Likely around the 13th or 14th century BC.", "literaryStyle": "Law code, featuring apodictic (direct command) and casuistic (case-by-case) legal formulations." }
This passage falls within the larger section of the Law known as the Covenant Code, which outlines rules for Israelite society after their liberation from Egypt. Specifically, it's part of a series of laws addressing how Israelites should treat one another, emphasizing fairness and compassion, especially toward the vulnerable. Immediately following these instructions on lending are laws concerning the pledge of a poor person's clothing and the treatment of a hired servant.
Ever feel like religious rules are just a list of 'dos' and 'don'ts'? This verse shows us God's laws are rooted in something much deeper.
In Exodus 22:25, God instructs the Israelites about lending money to their poor countrymen. He doesn't just say, 'Don't charge interest.' He says, 'You shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.'
More Than Just a Transaction
Notice the phrasing: 'not be like a moneylender.' This points to the attitude behind the action. A 'moneylender' in this context implies someone who is harsh, driven solely by profit, and unconcerned with the borrower's hardship. God wants His people to approach lending with compassion, not cold calculation.
Poverty as a Call to Mercy
The law specifically mentions lending to the 'poor.' This isn't accidental. Poverty often forces difficult choices and creates vulnerability. God's command is designed to protect the most vulnerable among His people from being further crushed by financial burdens. It's about uplifting those who are struggling, not exploiting their need.
Why was charging interest so problematic for the poor? The original words used here give us a vivid picture.
The Hebrew word translated as 'usury' in this verse is neshekh. This word literally means 'to bite.' Think about what a bite does – it pierces, it wounds, and it can spread venom.
The 'Bite' of Uncontrolled Interest
When applied to lending, neshekh (usury) signifies the way interest can relentlessly 'bite' into a poor person's limited resources. It's not just a small fee; it's a continuous drain that can overwhelm and consume their ability to recover. The ancient commentators understood this, noting how it resembles a serpent's bite – small at first, but ultimately destructive.
A Protective Measure for the Community
Understand the original words
nešek · Hebrew Noun
The legal or religious requirement to pay back a loan with additional fees. Biblical law strictly forbade charging interest to fellow Israelites in poverty to prevent economic enslavement and to encourage mercy.
salmah · Hebrew Noun
An outer garment used as protection from the elements, often functioning as a poor man's bed covering; taking it in pledge implies withholding a necessity of life.
chabol · Hebrew Noun
Security or collateral given to ensure the repayment of a debt. Biblical law regulates the taking of pledges to prevent the oppression of the poor.
channun · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to the moral character of God, characterized by grace, mercy, and sensitivity to the suffering of His people; He is responsive to the cries of the oppressed.
This passage directly relates to aiding a fellow Israelite in need, echoing the compassionate spirit of Exodus 22:25 by emphasizing support for those who have fallen into poverty.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8This passage reinforces the principle of not hardening one's heart or closing one's hand to a poor brother, directly supporting the prohibition against exacting interest from the needy.
Luke 6:34-35Jesus expands this principle, teaching to lend expecting nothing in return, which aligns with the spirit of Exodus 22:25 by highlighting selfless generosity over financial gain.
Psalm 15:1-5This Psalm describes the character of one who dwells in God's presence, explicitly including the righteous act of not lending money at interest, mirroring the ethical stance of Exodus 22:25.
Ezekiel lists not taking interest (usury) as a mark of righteousness, directly condemning the practice that Exodus 22:25 forbids towards the poor within the community.
calvinExodus 22:25: "If 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."
- If thou lend money to any of my people Humanity ought to be very greatly regarded in the matter of loans, especially when a person, being reduced to extremities, implores a rich man's compassion; for this is, in. point of fact, the genuine trial of our charity, when, in accordance with Christ's precept, we lend to those of whom we expect…
bensonExodus 22:25: "If 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."
Exodus 22:25 . If thou lend — 1st, They must not receive use for money from any Israelite that borrowed for necessity. And such provision the law made for the preserving estates to their families by the years of jubilee, that a people who had little concern in trade could not be supposed to borrow money but for necessity; therefore it was gen…
{ "author": "Traditionally attributed to Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests it was compiled and edited by various sources over time.", "location": "Written likely from the plains of Moab, just before entering the Promised Land.", "dateTime": "Likely around the 13th or 14th century BC.", "literaryStyle": "Law code, featuring apodictic (direct command) and casuistic (case-by-case) legal formulations." }
This passage falls within the larger section of the Law known as the Covenant Code, which outlines rules for Israelite society after their liberation from Egypt. Specifically, it's part of a series of laws addressing how Israelites should treat one another, emphasizing fairness and compassion, especially toward the vulnerable. Immediately following these instructions on lending are laws concerning the pledge of a poor person's clothing and the treatment of a hired servant.
"“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun…" — { "author": "Traditionally attributed to Moses, though scholarly consensus suggests it was compiled and edited by various sources over time.", "location": "Written likely from the plains of Moab,…
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God's prohibition against charging interest to the poor wasn't about condemning all forms of financial gain. As some texts clarify, lending to foreigners at interest was permitted. The restriction was specifically for the well-being of the Israelite community, ensuring that the poor wouldn't be bled dry by their own brethren. It was a radical call to mutual care and protection within the covenant community.
