Deuteronomy 23 20

Deuteronomy 23:20 kjv

Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deuteronomy 23:20 nkjv

To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.

Deuteronomy 23:20 niv

You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.

Deuteronomy 23:20 esv

You may charge a foreigner interest, but you may not charge your brother interest, that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

Deuteronomy 23:20 nlt

You may charge interest to foreigners, but you may not charge interest to Israelites, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you do in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Deuteronomy 23 verses

Deuteronomy 23 20 Meaning

Deuteronomy 23:20 addresses the rules for lending within the Israelite community compared to lending to foreigners. It permits an Israelite to charge interest (usury) to a non-Israelite or "stranger," but strictly forbids charging any interest to a fellow Israelite, who is considered a "brother." This distinction is established to uphold the unique communal bonds and mutual support required within God's covenant people. The verse concludes with a promise of God's blessing in all endeavors in the promised land for obedience to this command.

Deuteronomy 23 20 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 23 outlines various rules governing the purity and order of the Israelite community, touching on issues like temple entry, marriage, vows, hygiene, and ethical conduct within their borders. These laws are presented as instructions for how Israel is to live as a distinct, holy nation consecrated to Yahweh, especially as they prepare to enter and possess the land of Canaan.

The immediate context (verses 19-20) specifically deals with monetary transactions involving interest (usury). This law comes amidst regulations designed to differentiate Israel from the surrounding nations and solidify its identity as a unified, compassionate community under God's covenant. In ancient Near Eastern societies, lending with interest was common, but within Israel, where loans were often for subsistence due to famine, poor harvest, or other misfortunes, charging interest on a "brother" was viewed as exploitation and contrary to the spirit of familial care within the covenant. The "stranger" (Hebrew nokri) typically refers to a non-Israelite who did not share the same covenantal bond and often engaged in commerce where interest was standard practice. The "land" context emphasizes the specific environment where these covenantal social-economic laws were to be lived out, promoting economic justice and solidarity as foundational to their national flourishing.

Deuteronomy 23 20 Word analysis

• Unto a stranger (nokri / נָכְרִי): This Hebrew term specifically refers to a non-Israelite, a foreigner, an alien, one truly outside the covenant community of Israel. It is distinct from ger (גֵּר), which refers to a "sojourner" or resident alien who had settled within Israel and often received certain protections and shared in some communal life, sometimes even adhering to Israelite religious practices (though not a full proselyte). The nokri did not share the religious or communal ties that bound Israelites as "brothers."
• thou mayest lend upon usury: This grants permission for a specific action with a specific party. It acknowledges the prevalent economic practices of the time in the wider ancient Near East where interest on loans was normal in commercial transactions, without imposing this distinct covenantal ethic on non-Israelites.
• usury (neshek / נֶשֶׁךְ): From a root meaning "to bite," neshek refers to interest or any increase on a loan. It's often used interchangeably with tarbit (תַּרְבִּית), meaning "increase," often specifically on produce or goods rather than just money. The term "biting" implies a parasitic and potentially harmful charge. The prohibition was against exploitation, particularly in subsistence loans where the borrower was in distress. While generally prohibited within Israel, some scholars argue its application varied based on whether the loan was for sustenance (prohibited) or commercial investment (possibly allowed, but not explicitly stated here). However, the verse makes no such distinction, blanketly prohibiting it for a "brother."
• but unto thy brother (ach / אָח): Refers to a fellow Israelite, someone part of the covenant community of God. This term emphasizes the close kinship and solidarity that was expected to characterize the relationship between members of the elect nation. It highlights a unique moral and economic standard distinct from dealings with non-Israelites.
• thou shalt not lend upon usury: This is a clear and direct prohibition, forming the core ethical demand for internal communal dealings. It underscores God's command for compassion and justice among His people.
• that the LORD thy God may bless thee: This introduces the divine motivation and consequence for obedience. Obedience to this specific economic ethic is directly linked to divine favor.
• in all that thou settest thine hand to: Refers to all their labor, work, and endeavors. God's blessing is comprehensive and applies to every aspect of their lives and productivity.
• in the land whither thou goest to possess it: This specifies the geographical and existential context of the promise. The blessings are tied to their successful settlement and flourishing as God's people in the promised land of Canaan, emphasizing the corporate national aspect of their covenant with God. The laws were for forming a distinct society.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury:": This striking juxtaposition reveals a core principle of Israelite identity: a dual ethic. One standard for internal relations based on covenant solidarity, and another for external dealings which aligns more with general ANE commercial practice. The intent for the "brother" was not to gain financially from their hardship, but to act with generosity and mercy.
• "that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.": This phrase serves as a divine motivation. Obedience to this socio-economic law is directly connected to Israel's overall success and prosperity in the promised land. It frames economic justice as fundamental to the nation's well-being under God's covenant. The blessings are not earned independently but are an outcome of aligning their national conduct with divine commands for how a holy people should live and function economically.

Deuteronomy 23 20 Bonus section

The distinction made in Dt 23:20 between a "brother" (fellow Israelite) and a "stranger" (nokri) highlights a concept of progressive revelation and expansion in the biblical narrative. While Old Testament law sometimes specified different rules for insiders versus outsiders, the New Testament expands the definition of "neighbor" to include all people, regardless of ethnic or national origin (e.g., the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Lk 10:29-37). Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:34-35 to "lend, hoping for nothing again" transcends even the Old Testament requirement by encouraging radical generosity beyond what is legally due, setting an even higher standard for the kingdom ethic. However, the foundational principles from Deuteronomy—such as preventing exploitation, caring for the vulnerable, and seeking justice within a community of faith—remain eternal. This Old Testament law provides the framework upon which later, more universal, commands of love and mercy are built, ensuring that fundamental economic justice is maintained, while the ultimate ideal moves towards selfless giving.

Deuteronomy 23 20 Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:20 is a pivotal verse illuminating the unique socio-economic ethic of the ancient Israelite covenant community. At its heart, it reveals God's desire for a compassionate and non-exploitative society among His people. The prohibition of neshek (usury) for a "brother" was not an anti-profit stance in general, but specifically a safeguard against economic oppression and perpetual debt within a vulnerable population, particularly those needing loans for subsistence during hardship. To profit from a fellow Israelite's misfortune was seen as a betrayal of the mutual support inherent in their covenant relationship.

Conversely, allowing interest to a "stranger" (nokri) acknowledges that foreigners did not share the same covenant obligations or communal bonds. These foreigners were often involved in international trade where interest was a standard commercial practice. The law distinguishes between internal covenantal ethics and external commercial norms. While allowed, it wasn't commanded, suggesting the emphasis remained on ethical conduct.

The ultimate aim of this commandment was to promote internal solidarity and to protect the poor and vulnerable among God's people. This ethical framework served to distinguish Israel from its neighbors and reinforce their identity as a nation chosen by God to live by higher standards of justice and mercy. The promise of God's blessing tied directly to this obedience underscores the spiritual significance of their economic practices, showing that national prosperity was intrinsically linked to covenant fidelity and ethical treatment of one another within the Land. The principle, though nuanced for modern economic systems, remains pertinent to the call for social justice, generosity, and protection of the vulnerable in Christian ethics.