Deuteronomy 24:12 kjv
And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
Deuteronomy 24:12 nkjv
And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight.
Deuteronomy 24:12 niv
If the neighbor is poor, do not go to sleep with their pledge in your possession.
Deuteronomy 24:12 esv
And if he is a poor man, you shall not sleep in his pledge.
Deuteronomy 24:12 nlt
If your neighbor is poor and gives you his cloak as security for a loan, do not keep the cloak overnight.
Deuteronomy 24 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| Exod 22:26-27 | If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you shall return it... for it is his only covering... | Direct parallel: Returning a pledged cloak for warmth. || Lev 19:10 | And you shall not strip your vineyard bare... you shall leave them for the poor... | Care for the poor, ensuring sustenance. || Lev 25:35-37 | If your brother becomes poor... you shall support him... Take no interest... | General call to help the impoverished and avoid exploitation. || Psa 15:5 | ...who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe... | Principles of ethical lending and integrity. || Prov 14:31 | Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous... honors him. | Warning against mistreating the poor; links to God's honor. || Prov 19:17 | Whoever lends to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him... | Divine approval for compassion toward the needy. || Prov 22:22-23 | Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted... for the Lord will plead their cause. | God defends the exploited; warning against injustice. || Isa 58:6-7 | Is not this the fast... to loose the bonds of injustice... share your bread... cover the naked...? | True worship involves acts of justice and charity for the needy. || Jer 22:15-16 | ...your father? Did he not eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy... | Righteous leadership involves defending the vulnerable. || Eze 18:7 | ...does not oppress anyone, but restores his pledge to the debtor... | Restoring pledges as a sign of righteousness. || Eze 18:12 | ...he oppresses the poor and needy... retains a pledge... | Retaining pledges by night is an act of wickedness. || Eze 33:15 | ...if he restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery... | Act of repentance involves restoring pledges. || Amos 2:6-8 | ...because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals—those who trample the head of the poor... and a man and his father go in to the same girl... And they lay themselves down... upon garments taken in pledge... | Prophetic condemnation of those who oppress the poor and misuse pledges. || Zech 7:9-10 | Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy... do not oppress... the poor... | Divine command for social justice and compassion. || Neh 5:1-12 | ...our children... are pledged. Some of us have borrowed money for... the king’s tax on our fields... Restore... their fields... houses... and the hundredth of the money... also the grain, the wine, and the oil. | Restoration of pledges due to economic distress among God's people. || Matt 5:42 | Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow. | Broad New Testament principle of generosity and charity. || Luke 6:34-35| And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? ...lend, expecting nothing in return... | Radical generosity exceeding mere legal requirements. || 1 Tim 6:17-19 | As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty... but to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share... | Generosity and compassion are Christian virtues. || Heb 13:3 | Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated... | Call for empathy and practical care for the suffering. || James 2:5-6 | Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith...? You have dishonored the poor man. | Warning against disdaining the poor, whom God honors. || James 2:15-16 | If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food... | Call for practical help rather than mere words of good intention. || 1 John 3:17 | But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? | The love of God compels practical care for those in need. |
Deuteronomy 24 verses
Deuteronomy 24 12 Meaning
This verse commands a creditor to return a pledged item, especially a garment, to a poor borrower before nightfall. The purpose is rooted in compassion, ensuring that the poor person, who may have no other covering, has their essential need for warmth and protection met overnight. It prioritizes human dignity and basic survival over the strict enforcement of debt collection when life's necessities are at stake.
Deuteronomy 24 12 Context
Deuteronomy 24:12 is situated within a broader section of laws (Deuteronomy 22-25) dealing with various aspects of civil and social life, all aimed at fostering a just and compassionate society in Israel, reflecting the character of God. Specifically, verses 24:10-13 concern the ethical handling of pledges given as security for a loan. Verse 10 states that a creditor must not enter a debtor's house to take a pledge, and verse 11 commands the creditor to stand outside and let the debtor bring the pledge out. This emphasizes the debtor's privacy and dignity. Verse 12 then focuses on the particular case of a poor borrower whose essential pledge, like a cloak, serves as both day-time garment and night-time blanket. The historical and cultural context highlights that while pledges were a common part of ancient lending, the Mosaic Law sought to prevent the exploitation common in surrounding pagan nations where creditors often held absolute power and could dispossess or even enslave debtors without compassionate recourse. This law thus polemicizes against such oppressive practices, emphasizing the distinctive moral standard expected of Israel as God's covenant people, who remembered their own oppression in Egypt (Deut 24:18).
Deuteronomy 24 12 Word analysis
- And: (Hebrew: וְ gam/ve) A connective, linking this law to the preceding ones concerning pledges.
- if he be: (Hebrew: כִּי־יִהְיֶה ki-yihey) Conditional phrase, setting the scenario; this specific injunction applies under the condition that the borrower is poor.
- a poor man: (Hebrew: אֶבְיוֹן 'evyon) Signifies someone destitute, needy, lacking basic resources, truly dependent. This is a crucial qualifier; the law is specific to those in dire economic straits, unlike
aniy(afflicted) ordal(weak/lowly) which can have broader meanings. The focus is on their vulnerability and inability to survive without the item. - thou shalt not: (Hebrew: לֹא lo') A strong negative imperative, indicating a direct divine prohibition, not a suggestion. It signifies a moral absolute.
- sleep with: (Hebrew: תִּשְׁכָּב tishkav, lit. "lie down") Here, contextually means to retain overnight or keep in possession through the night. It implies that the pledge, typically a garment used as a covering, would deprive the poor person of their essential overnight shelter.
- his pledge: (Hebrew: עֲבֹטוֹ 'avoto) Refers to the item taken as security for a loan. In the case of a poor person, this was often an outer garment, which served as their blanket. This term emphasizes that despite the legal claim the creditor has, there is a higher ethical duty.
- "And if he be a poor man": This phrase introduces a specific condition for the subsequent prohibition, highlighting that the law targets particular instances of vulnerability. It demonstrates the Mosaic Law's concern for equity and specific relief for those who are most susceptible to hardship.
- "thou shalt not sleep with his pledge": This entire phrase, rooted in the preceding word analysis, forms the core commandment. It forbids keeping an essential pledged item from a poor person overnight. The prohibition isn't against taking a pledge, but against depriving the borrower of something vital for their immediate well-being and survival overnight, indicating a limit to a creditor's rights.
Deuteronomy 24 12 Bonus section
This specific law on pledges not only protected the poor physically but also upheld their dignity by preventing total destitution. It connected deeply to Israel's national memory: just as God heard the cry of His people who were enslaved and oppressed in Egypt and delivered them, Israel was to be a society where cries of the poor were heard and addressed (Deut 24:18; remembering "you were slaves in Egypt"). This covenantal memory was meant to inspire a compassionate ethos. Prophets like Amos and Ezekiel later condemned those who violated such laws, equating their actions with a lack of true faith and a disregard for God Himself. Thus, showing mercy in practical matters of lending and pledges became a touchstone of righteousness and knowing God.
Deuteronomy 24 12 Commentary
Deuteronomy 24:12 articulates a profound principle of social justice rooted in compassion. While the creditor had a legal right to a pledge as security for a loan, God's law imposes a critical boundary when the debtor is poor and the pledge is an essential item like an outer garment. To "sleep with" (i.e., keep) the poor person's pledge overnight would be to strip them of their only means of warmth and protection from the cold, potentially endangering their health or life. This law transforms a strictly contractual relationship into one imbued with humanitarian consideration. It serves as a reminder that the needs of the most vulnerable in society supersede absolute economic rights, embodying the biblical call for empathy and ethical responsibility in all dealings. This command reflects God's own character as a defender and provider for the needy, and His desire for Israel to reflect this divine attribute in their community. It shows that even lawful claims must be pursued with mercy.Practical examples:
- A landlord cannot demand payment that would leave a tenant without basic necessities like heating.
- An employer should not enforce rules so strictly that a low-wage worker is deprived of rest or essential income needed for survival.
- Financial institutions should offer options or relief to clients experiencing genuine hardship rather than immediately foreclosing on essential assets without compassion.