Deuteronomy 24 10

Deuteronomy 24:10 kjv

When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:10 nkjv

"When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:10 niv

When you make a loan of any kind to your neighbor, do not go into their house to get what is offered to you as a pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:10 esv

"When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not go into his house to collect his pledge.

Deuteronomy 24:10 nlt

"If you lend anything to your neighbor, do not enter his house to pick up the item he is giving as security.

Deuteronomy 24 verses

Deuteronomy 24 10 Meaning

Deuteronomy 24:10 establishes a clear prohibition for a lender concerning the collection of a pledge from a fellow Israelite. When extending a loan and taking security, the creditor is strictly forbidden from entering the debtor's house to seize the pledge. Instead, the process must maintain the dignity and privacy of the borrower, requiring the debtor to willingly bring out the pledged item. This statute ensures that even in economic transactions, respect for the individual's personal space and honor is upheld, preventing intrusive or coercive behavior from the creditor.

Deuteronomy 24 10 Context

Deuteronomy 24 forms part of Moses' farewell address to Israel, re-establishing and expanding on the laws given at Mount Sinai as they prepare to enter the promised land. This chapter contains a series of miscellaneous laws concerning social and ethical conduct. Following sections on divorce and prohibited remarriage (24:1-4) and military exemption (24:5), verses 6-22 detail regulations concerning human relationships and compassionate treatment within the community, especially regarding the vulnerable. This specific verse (24:10) initiates a short block of laws (24:10-13) governing the respectful and just collection of pledges for loans, specifically aimed at protecting the debtor's privacy and dignity. It highlights God's expectation for Israel to maintain a high standard of humane and compassionate justice, reflecting His own character in their dealings with one another. Historically, the legal frameworks of surrounding nations often granted creditors significant, even brutal, power over debtors; this law differentiates Israel by emphasizing ethical considerations even in debt collection.

Deuteronomy 24 10 Word analysis

• When you lend: (Hebrew: כִּי תַשֶּׁה ki tashsheh) – "When you cause to lend," indicating the active role of the lender. This establishes the context of a commercial or private transaction.
• your brother: (Hebrew: לְאָחִיךָ le'akhikha) – Emphasizes a fellow Israelite, highlighting the familial bond and covenant relationship within the community. The laws often distinguish between treatment of fellow Israelites and foreigners. This underscores the special ethical obligations within the covenant.
• anything: (Hebrew: מַשָּׁא mashsha') – Refers broadly to "a loan" or "anything lent" or "a debt," signifying any item, money, or goods that are loaned out, for which a pledge might be taken. It's a comprehensive term covering various types of loans and pledges.
• you shall not go: (Hebrew: לֹא תָבֹא lo tavo) – A strong negative command, prohibiting the action outright. It denotes "do not enter" or "you must not go."
• into his house: (Hebrew: אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ el beito) – This refers to the private dwelling of the debtor. The house was considered a sanctuary and a deeply personal space, often holding essential family items. Respecting this space was paramount.
• to get his pledge: (Hebrew: לַחֲבֹל עֲבֹתוֹ lachabol avoto) – Chabol (לחבל) means "to take a pledge/security." Avoto (עֲבֹתוֹ) means "his pledge" or "his security." The phrase describes the direct act of going into the house for the purpose of physically acquiring the pledged item. The emphasis is on the manner of collection, not the legitimacy of the pledge itself.

Words-group analysis:

• "When you lend your brother anything": This phrase sets the compassionate tone of the law, applying it specifically to members of the Israelite community, emphasizing mutual support and brotherhood. It presupposes that lending is a permissible and often necessary practice.
• "you shall not go into his house": This is the central command, highlighting the debtor's privacy and dignity. It restricts the lender's authority, preventing any potential for intimidation, undue searching, or public shaming associated with entering another's private residence uninvited, even for a legitimate purpose. It safeguards against abuse of power.
• "to get his pledge": This phrase clarifies the purpose for which entry is forbidden. It is not a general prohibition against all entry, but specifically against forced entry for the retrieval of a pledge, thereby regulating the creditor-debtor interaction to ensure ethical conduct during collection. This means the debtor must bring the pledge out to the lender.

Deuteronomy 24 10 Bonus Section

• Trust and Respect: The law fosters a community built on trust and respect, even when financial transactions are involved. It minimizes the potential for conflict or animosity between lenders and borrowers by dictating a civil and respectful mode of interaction during a sensitive moment.
• Preventing Further Burden: Forcing a debtor to permit a lender inside their home for collection might impose an additional psychological and emotional burden, on top of the financial strain. This law alleviates that.
• Principle of Voluntarism: The implied positive command is that the debtor should voluntarily present the pledge outside the house, shifting the onus of production (but not necessarily willingness) to the debtor while removing the element of creditor intrusion. This is explicitly stated in Deut 24:11.
• Wisdom Literature Echoes: The principles embedded in this law—compassion, integrity in dealings, protection of the vulnerable—are frequently echoed and elaborated upon in the wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs, Job) which reinforces these as divine ideals for personal conduct.

Deuteronomy 24 10 Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:10 serves as a crucial social protection within the Israelite legal framework, demonstrating God's deep concern for human dignity and the well-being of the vulnerable, particularly the poor or those in financial distress. This law does not prohibit the practice of taking pledges as security for a loan, which was common and necessary in ancient economies. Instead, it meticulously regulates how a pledge must be collected. By forbidding the lender from entering the debtor's house, the law protects the privacy, dignity, and autonomy of the borrower. It prevents potential abuse of power, coercion, humiliation, or opportunistic seizing of more valuable items than initially pledged. The house, in ancient societies, represented not merely property but a person's private realm and sanctuary. Invading it for debt collection would be deeply intrusive and shaming. This legislation promotes a just and humane process, requiring the debtor to voluntarily bring out the pledged item. This legal stipulation elevated Israel's social ethic far above many contemporary Near Eastern cultures, where creditors often had unchecked power, including the right to invade homes or even enslave debtors and their families. It underscores a covenant community where justice is tempered with compassion and respect for all its members. Practically, this implies a call for discretion and empathy in all financial dealings, ensuring that legal rights are exercised in a manner that upholds the neighbor's inherent worth.