Deuteronomy 15 9

Deuteronomy 15:9 kjv

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Deuteronomy 15:9 nkjv

Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you.

Deuteronomy 15:9 niv

Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.

Deuteronomy 15:9 esv

Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.

Deuteronomy 15:9 nlt

Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for canceling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the LORD, you will be considered guilty of sin.

Deuteronomy 15 verses

Deuteronomy 15 9 Meaning

Deuteronomy 15:9 serves as a stringent warning against the insidious thought of refusing to help a needy fellow Israelite due to the approaching Sabbatical year (the year of release), in which debts were to be forgiven. It admonishes against withholding generosity because of the fear that a loan made near the end of the six-year cycle would soon be annulled. This deliberate uncharitable act, rooted in a "wicked thought" and expressed through an "evil eye," is condemned as a grave sin against God, for the cry of the oppressed would ascend to Him.

Deuteronomy 15 9 Context

Deuteronomy 15 is part of a larger section of laws (chapters 12-26) often referred to as the Deuteronomic Code, detailing covenant responsibilities for the Israelites in the promised land. Specifically, this chapter outlines laws concerning debt release and treatment of the poor and slaves every seventh year (the Shemittah). Verses 1-11 focus on the Shemittah as it pertains to debts and poverty. The surrounding verses command active, ungrudging generosity towards the poor. Verse 9 functions as a potent warning against an inner inclination that undermines this divine command. It addresses a specific temptation—to avoid financial loss by exploiting the law of release. This law set Israel apart from surrounding cultures, where perpetual debt or debt-slavery was common, demonstrating God's unique economic and social justice principles meant to prevent chronic poverty within the community and reflect His mercy.

Deuteronomy 15 9 Word analysis

• Beware (הִשָּׁמֶר, hishshamer): A strong, urgent warning, conveying a sense of self-guarding or caution. It indicates that the impending thought is a dangerous snare that must be actively resisted.
• lest there be: Introduces the negative consequence or thing to be avoided.
• a wicked thought (דָּבָר בְּלִיַּעַל, davar beliya'al): Literally "a word/thing of Belial" or "worthlessness." "Belial" often denotes extreme wickedness, perversity, or worthlessness. This refers to a base, ungodly, evil plan or intent forming in the mind. It is not just an absent-minded omission but a calculated, self-serving decision born of a depraved mindset.
• in your heart (בִּלְבָבְךָ, b'lewav'kha): The "heart" in biblical understanding is the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and moral character. This highlights that the problem originates internally, at the deepest level of one's being and intentions, before it manifests in action.
• saying: Indicates the internal dialogue or justification for the wicked thought.
• 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand': The specific justification. The shemittah was a mandated period for resting the land and releasing debts. This clause pinpoints the precise economic calculation driving the wicked thought—the perceived loss of a loan due to its impending cancellation.
• and your eye be evil (וְרָעָה עֵינְךָ, v'ra'ah eyneka): "Evil eye" is a significant idiom in biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts. It means stinginess, begrudging, covetousness, jealousy, or an ungenerous disposition. It signifies looking upon a needy person with disdain or a desire to withhold. It is the antithesis of a "good eye" which is open-handed and benevolent.
• against your poor brother (בְּאָחִיךָ הָאֶבְיוֹן, b'achicha ha'evyon): Emphasizes the relationship of kinship ("brother," highlighting covenant community) and the dire economic state of the individual ("poor," evyon suggesting utter destitution). The sin is magnified by being directed at one's own people and the most vulnerable among them.
• and you give him nothing: The consequence of the evil thought and eye—a complete refusal of assistance. It is not merely a reduction in aid but an outright denial.
• and he cry out (וְקָרָא, v'qara): This indicates a fervent plea, an appeal to a higher authority, often God, due to distress or injustice. It implies deep suffering and helplessness.
• to the Lord (אֶל־יְהוָה, el-Yahweh): Specifies the divine recipient of the cry. God is presented as the ultimate protector of the poor and oppressed, who hears their pleas. This evokes the imagery of Exodus where God hears the cry of His people.
• against you (עָלֶיךָ, 'aleka): The cry is a direct accusation or complaint against the oppressor, carrying the weight of divine attention and potential judgment.
• and it become sin for you (וְהָיָה בְךָ חֵטְא, v'hayah b'kha chet): This declares the ultimate spiritual consequence. The act of refusal, stemming from a wicked heart and manifested by an evil eye, is not just socially reprehensible but a direct violation of God's command and character, rendering the individual guilty before Him. "Sin" (chet) implies missing the mark of God's righteousness.

Deuteronomy 15 9 Bonus section

The profound moral challenge presented in Deuteronomy 15:9 extends into Christian ethics. Jesus' teaching on wealth and the kingdom, particularly the parable of the rich fool (Lk 12:16-21) or the condemnation of those who neglect the hungry and thirsty in Matthew 25:41-45, echoes the spirit of this warning against self-serving priorities and spiritual blindness to the needs of others. The verse highlights the radical nature of the Law concerning economic justice and compassion within the Israelite community, challenging modern mindsets that often separate economic decisions from ethical or spiritual accountability. It’s not just about what you do (not give) but what you think and feel (wicked thought, evil eye) that constitutes sin before God.

Deuteronomy 15 9 Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:9 delves beyond mere outward compliance with the law to examine the hidden motivations of the heart. Moses warns against a "wicked thought" (davar beliya'al), indicating that true righteousness goes beyond avoiding explicit wrongdoing and requires a pure inner disposition. The shemittah was a divine provision to prevent perpetual poverty and foster a caring community; however, it presented an economic dilemma for lenders. This verse directly confronts the selfish tendency to prioritize personal gain over covenant solidarity and the needs of the vulnerable. The "evil eye" symbolizes a begrudging spirit, one that is tight-fisted and lacks empathy, seeing the needy not as a brother to be helped, but as a liability. Such an attitude makes a loan, or any act of charity, burdensome, even if it fulfills a command. God's perspective is critical here: He hears the cry of the poor and counts the ungenerous heart as a grave sin, effectively declaring that an internal calculation of greed leading to neglect is a direct offense against Him. This teaching establishes that economic decisions must align with divine love and justice, even when they entail personal sacrifice, reinforcing that one's attitude towards the poor directly reflects one's obedience to God.