Leviticus 25:35-37
Debt and Slave Regulations
35 “‘If your brother ▼▼tn It is not clear to whom this refers. It is probably broader than “sibling” (cf. NRSV “any of your kin”; NLT “any of your Israelite relatives”) but some English versions take it to mean “fellow Israelite” (so NIV11, TEV; cf. NIV84, NAB “countrymen”) and others are ambiguous (cf. CEV “any of your people”).
becomes impoverished and is indebted to you, ▼▼tn Heb “and his hand slips with you.”
you must support ▼▼tn Heb “strengthen”; NASB “sustain.”
him; he must live ▼ with you like a foreign resident. ▼▼tn Heb “a foreigner and resident,” which is probably to be combined (see B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 170-71). tn The Hebrew terms ger (גֵּר; “resident foreigner”) and toshav (תּוֹשָׁב; “resident/dweller”) have similar meaning. The toshav was less integrated into Israelite society, had less rights, and had not fully committed to the religion of Israel. Here the combination emphasizes the impoverished Israelites change in status. Note that the native born citizen and the resident foreigner (or naturalized citizen) were equal under the law (Exod 12:49; Lev 24:22; Num 9:14; 15:15, 16, 26, 29; 19:10; 35:15; Deut 1:16) or similar obligations (Exod 20:10; 23:12; Lev 16:29; 17:10, 12, 13; 18:26; 24:16; Num 15:14).
36Do not take interest or profit from him, ▼▼tn The meaning of the terms rendered “interest” and “profit” is much debated (see the summaries in P. J. Budd, Leviticus [NCBC], 354-55 and B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 178). Verse 37, however, suggests that the first refers to a percentage of money and the second percentage of produce (see J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 421).
but you must fear your God, and your brother must live ▼ with you. 37You must not lend him your money at interest, and you must not sell him food for profit. ▼
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