Leviticus 25:35
“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's striking here is that "stranger and sojourner" isn't about who your poor brother is, but how you're to treat him. Instead of seeing his poverty as a mark of shame, you must support him with the same forbearance and dignity you'd offer a foreigner who has no tribal inheritance, ensuring he can maintain a life with you.
This passage addresses the dire situation of an Israelite who, through poverty, is unable to support himself and might even be forced into servitude. It immediately follows discussions about land being returned to its original owners during the Jubilee year and precedes specific instructions on lending money without interest. The verses here function as a compassionate preamble, urging immediate support for the impoverished brother so he can maintain his life and dignity within the community.
What does it mean for your 'hand to waver'? This verse paints a vivid picture of someone struggling, not just financially, but in their very ability to keep going.
The phrase 'fallen in decay' or 'his hand wavereth' describes someone who has lost their capacity to support themselves. It's not just about being broke; it's about reaching a point of severe inability.
The Weight of Poverty
This isn't about a temporary setback. It speaks to a deep crisis where someone's strength is failing, their efforts are no longer yielding results, and they can no longer manage on their own. Think of it as a complete loss of footing.
A Call to Action
The immediate response commanded is to 'relieve him' or 'strengthen him.' This isn't passive pity, but active support. It's about lending a hand to steady the wavering hand, ensuring they don't completely fall.
When someone falls into deep poverty, are they still considered 'family'? This passage insists on a specific kind of care, even for those who might feel like outsiders.
The core command is to support your 'brother' as if he were a 'stranger and a sojourner.' This might seem contradictory, but it's a profound instruction about the quality of care.
Dignity for the Downtrodden
Resident foreigners in Israel were often vulnerable and lacked the full rights of citizens. They were to be treated with a specific kind of consideration and fairness, not as outcasts but with a degree of protected status. By telling Israelites to treat their impoverished brother like a stranger, the Law ensures that the poor person isn't treated worse than a foreigner, and certainly not like an outcast.
Maintaining Community
This isn't just about charity; it's about upholding the dignity of every person within the community. It means providing them with what they need to live, so they remain a part of the community rather than being pushed to the margins. The goal is for them to 'live with you,' not to be isolated or forgotten.
Understand the original words
ach · Hebrew Noun
A fellow member of the covenant community of Israel. Brotherly duty in the Bible involves providing aid, protection, and justice, reflecting the relational obligations of the covenant.
ger · Hebrew Noun
A temporary resident or guest in a land not their own. Biblically, they often lived under the protection of the host community but lacked the full political and land-owning rights of native citizens.
This passage echoes the spirit of Leviticus 25:35 by explicitly stating, 'If among you a poor man is found... you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.' It reinforces the idea of active support for those in need within the community.
Proverbs 19:17This proverb highlights the divine perspective on charity, stating, 'Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him.' This connects the act of supporting a struggling brother, as commanded in Leviticus, to a righteous deed that is observed and rewarded by God.
Nehemiah 5:4This verse shows a historical instance where the command in Leviticus was violated, revealing the consequence of failing to support a poor brother. The people complained of exacting usury and burdens, demonstrating the practical importance of the care mandated in Leviticus 25.
Luke 10:30Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan expands the concept of 'neighbor' beyond the immediate community. The Samaritan's compassion for an injured stranger mirrors the Leviticus command to support not just a brother, but even a sojourner, emphasizing selfless mercy.
1 John 3:17This New Testament passage directly addresses practical love, stating, 'But if someone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?' This reinforces the Levitical call to tangible support for those facing hardship.
pulpitLeviticus 25:35: "And 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."
Verses 35-38. - Slavery. It is presumed that no Hebrew will become a slave except on the pressure of poverty, and this poverty his brethren are commanded to relieve; but foreseeing that either want of charity on the part of the rich or unthrift on the part of the poor would certainly bring about slavery, the le…
pooleLeviticus 25:35: "And 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."
Fallen in decay, Heb. his hand wavereth, of faileth or is decayed so that he hath not power to get or keep wealth, as the phrase is, Deu 8:18 ; as on the contrary, when a man is able, his hand is said to attain and find sufficiency , as here above, Leviticus 25:26 . Relieve him, Heb. strengthen him , comfort hi…
What's striking here is that "stranger and sojourner" isn't about who your poor brother is, but how you're to treat him. Instead of seeing his poverty as a mark of shame, you must support him with the same forbearance and dignity you'd offer a foreigner who has no tribal inheritance, ensuring he can maintain a life with you.
This passage addresses the dire situation of an Israelite who, through poverty, is unable to support himself and might even be forced into servitude. It immediately follows discussions about land being returned to its original owners during the Jubilee year and precedes specific instructions on lending money without interest. The verses here function as a compassionate preamble, urging immediate support for the impoverished brother so he can maintain his life and dignity within the community.
This passage addresses the dire situation of an Israelite who, through poverty, is unable to support himself and might even be forced into servitude. It immediately follows discussions about land being returned to its original owners during the Jubilee year and precedes specific instructions on lending money without interest. The verses here function as a compassionate preamble, urging immediate support for the impoverished brother so he can maintain his life and dignity within the community.
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"“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you." — What's striking here is that "stranger and sojourner" isn't about who your poor brother is, but how you're to treat him. Instead of seeing his poverty as a mark of shame, you must support him wit…
