Leviticus 25:35 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

Leviticus 25:35

33 And if a man purchases a house from the Levites, then the house that was sold in the city of his possession shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.

34 But ^athe field of the common-land of their cities may not be ^bsold, for it is their perpetual possession.

Lending to the Poor

35 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and¹ falls into poverty among you, then you shall ^ahelp him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.

36 ^aTake no usury or interest from him; but ^bfear your God, that your brother may live with you.

37 You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.

38 ^aI am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

The Law Concerning Slavery

39 ‘And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave.

40 As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee.

41 And then he shall depart from you—he and his children ^awith him—and shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers.

42 For they are ^aMy servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves.

43 ^aYou shall not rule over him ^bwith rigor, but you ^cshall fear your God.

44 And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have—from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.

45 Moreover you may buy ^athe children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Leviticus 25:35-38

if thy brother be waxen poor, . . . relieve him—This was a most benevolent provision for the poor and unfortunate, designed to aid them or alleviate the evils of their condition. Whether a native Israelite or a mere sojourner, his richer neighbor was required to give him food, lodging, and a supply of money without usury. Usury was severely condemned (Psalms 15:5; Ezekiel 18:8, Ezekiel 18:17), but the prohibition cannot be considered as applicable to the modern practice of men in business, borrowing and lending at legal rates of interest.

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