Deuteronomy 15:1 kjv
At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.
Deuteronomy 15:1 nkjv
"At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.
Deuteronomy 15:1 niv
At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts.
Deuteronomy 15:1 esv
"At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release.
Deuteronomy 15:1 nlt
"At the end of every seventh year you must cancel the debts of everyone who owes you money.
Deuteronomy 15 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 23:10-11 | "Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year... shall let it lie fallow..." | Earlier Sabbatical law, land rest. |
| Lev 25:1-7 | "When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall observe a sabbath to the Lord." | Law of the land's Sabbath (fallow year). |
| Lev 25:8-12 | "You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years... then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month..." | The Jubilee year, 49+1, ultimate release. |
| Deut 15:2-3 | "This is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor..." | Direct follow-up, specifying debt release. |
| Deut 15:4-5 | "But there will be no poor among you... if only you carefully obey the voice of the Lord your God..." | Divine promise related to obedience. |
| Deut 15:7-8 | "If among you, anyone is poor... you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand..." | Command to be generous towards the poor. |
| Deut 15:12-18 | "If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years..." | Release of Hebrew servants/slaves. |
| Neh 10:31 | "We will not buy from the peoples of the land or from merchants on the Sabbath day or on a holy day, and we will forgo the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt." | Post-exilic commitment to keep Shmita. |
| Jer 34:14-16 | "At the end of seven years each of you must release his fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you... but you recently repented..." | Prophetic rebuke for failure to observe. |
| Eze 46:17 | "But if he gives an inheritance... it shall be his only until the year of liberty..." | Reflects a principle of limited land ownership. |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." | God over material possessions. |
| Matt 5:42 | "Give to the one who asks you, and from the one who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." | Principle of generosity and willingness to give. |
| Luke 4:18-19 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor... to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." | Jesus’ ministry of liberation and justice. |
| Isa 61:1-2 | "to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor..." | Prophecy fulfilled by Jesus, echoing "release." |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the Lord with your wealth... then your barns will be filled..." | Trust in God through giving. |
| Prov 19:17 | "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." | Blessing promised for helping the poor. |
| 2 Cor 8:13-15 | "I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need..." | New Covenant principle of equitable sharing. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but on God... to be generous and ready to share..." | Christian perspective on wealth. |
| Heb 4:9-10 | "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God... for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works..." | Ultimate spiritual rest from works. |
| Ps 37:21 | "The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous lends generously." | Righteous character contrasted. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... and test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven...'" | Trusting God with resources. |
| Deut 24:14-15 | "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy... You shall give him his wages on his day..." | Preventing exploitation and ensuring fairness. |
| Rom 13:8 | "Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." | Christian ethical perspective on debt. |
| Jam 2:15-16 | "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" | Practical faith and compassion for needy. |
Deuteronomy 15 verses
Deuteronomy 15 1 Meaning
Deuteronomy 15:1 commands the people of Israel to observe a "release" at the close of every seven years. This divinely mandated institution, known as the Sabbatical Year or Shmita, primarily involves the remission of debts owed between Israelites, aiming to prevent long-term poverty and maintain economic equilibrium within the community. It embodies principles of mercy, social justice, and trust in God's provision.
Deuteronomy 15 1 Context
Deuteronomy is presented as Moses' farewell addresses to the Israelites before they enter the promised land. Chapter 15 is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 12-26) detailing the specific statutes and ordinances that flow from the covenant principles laid out in previous chapters. These laws are meant to regulate the Israelites' daily lives, ensuring they live as God's distinct people, demonstrating righteousness and justice in their community. Within this framework, chapter 15 specifically addresses social and economic welfare, focusing on debt, poverty, and the treatment of servants, establishing unique societal norms rooted in God's character and covenant relationship with His people. The Sabbatical Year (shmita) is presented as a crucial mechanism for maintaining justice and equality, preventing the permanent stratification of wealth, and encouraging communal reliance on God's generosity. This chapter counters common ancient Near Eastern practices of perpetual debt-slavery, demonstrating God's compassion and commitment to human dignity.
Deuteronomy 15 1 Word analysis
- At the end: Hebrew
miq-qêṣ(מִקֵּץ), meaning "at the end," "at the expiration of," or "at the close." This denotes a fixed, precise end-point of a cycle, not a general approximation. It emphasizes the specific time when the divine command takes effect. The use of "end" here connects to the fulfillment of a period, echoing the end of a creative week in Genesis 1 and the concept of rest. - of every seven years: Hebrew
sheva shanim(שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים). This explicitly points to the Sabbatical cycle, a foundational rhythm in Israelite life tied to the seven-day week of creation (Gen 2:2-3; Exo 20:8-11). It highlights periodicity, regularity, and an intentional, recurring pause in economic activity. This cycle reminded Israel that time, and all provision within it, belonged to the Lord. - you shall grant: Hebrew
ta-ʿă-śeh(תַעֲשֶׂה), a form ofasah, meaning "to do," "to make," or "to perform." This is a direct, imperative command, indicating an action that must be taken by the individual Israelite, particularly those who are creditors. It conveys obligation and active participation in God's economic and social system. - a release: Hebrew
shəmiṭṭāh(שְׁמִטָּה), from the verbshamash, meaning "to let fall," "to let lie," "to abandon," or "to drop." This is the core term. In the context of Deuteronomy 15,shəmiṭṭāhrefers primarily to the "release of debts." It signified a complete cancellation or annulment of loans (at least those made between Israelites), not just a moratorium on collection. It extended also to the release of certain servants later in the chapter and the resting of the land in other Pentateuchal laws (Exo 23:11, Lev 25:4). It symbolizes God's radical design for justice, preventing chronic poverty and permanent servitude.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "At the end of every seven years": This phrase establishes the specific temporal framework for the commandment. It links Israel's economic and social life to a divine, rhythmic pattern. The seven-year cycle reinforced God's sovereignty over time, work, and wealth, echoing the weekly Sabbath. It demanded foresight and faith, as economic activities had to be planned around this divinely ordained break.
- "you shall grant a release": This phrase is the direct command. It specifies the required action—an act of
shəmiṭṭāh—a letting go, a surrender of claims. This was not optional; it was a mandatory act of obedience and compassion. It revealed a core tenet of the Mosaic Law: God's people were to operate on principles of generosity, trust, and justice, rather than pure human economics, to ensure a vibrant and equitable community where none suffered destitution indefinitely.
Deuteronomy 15 1 Bonus section
The concept of shəmiṭṭāh is a powerful illustration of God's alternative economy, which prioritizes human well-being and justice over pure profit or unending accumulation. It served as a periodic reset button for the Israelite economy, preventing the creation of an entrenched poor class and mitigating vast disparities in wealth that could lead to social strife and oppression. This commanded act of letting go required significant faith, particularly for creditors who might lose substantial sums. It trained the people to acknowledge that their true security lay not in their material possessions or outstanding debts but in the faithful promise and provision of Yahweh, who owns the land and everything in it (Lev 25:23). The ultimate shəmiṭṭāh can be seen fulfilled in Christ's ministry (Luke 4:18-19) where He proclaimed liberation for the captives and a year of the Lord's favor, a spiritual release from the debt of sin and the bondage of spiritual poverty.
Deuteronomy 15 1 Commentary
Deuteronomy 15:1 introduces the pivotal law of shəmiṭṭāh, the Sabbatical Year of release. This verse commands that every seventh year, outstanding debts owed between fellow Israelites were to be completely remitted. This radical economic policy served multiple purposes rooted in the covenant. It acted as a profound expression of mercy, ensuring that no Israelite would be permanently ensnared in poverty or debt-slavery, thus safeguarding human dignity and the ideal of economic equality within the land. The law also fostered dependence on God's provision rather than human accumulation, as creditors had to trust God to sustain them despite relinquishing their claims. Furthermore, it underscored Israel's distinct identity as a people whose economic and social systems were founded on divine principles of justice and compassion, setting them apart from surrounding cultures that often tolerated severe exploitation. While challenging to implement in practice, as evidenced by later prophetic laments (e.g., Jer 34), it remained a foundational principle for God's desired society, reflecting His character as a Provider and Liberator.