Amplified Bible
Leviticus 25:35
35‘Now if your fellow countryman becomes poor and his hand falters with you [that is, he has trouble repaying you for something], then you are to help and sustain him, [with courtesy and consideration] like [you would] a stranger or a temporary resident [without property], so that he may live among you.
Leviticus 25:35 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
- New International Version (NIV)“ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.
Context of Leviticus 25:35
33Therefore, what is [purchased] from the Levites may be redeemed [by a Levite], and the house that was sold in the city they possess reverts in the Year of Jubilee, for the houses in the Levite cities are their [ancestral] property among the Israelites. 34But the pasture lands of their cities may not be sold, for that is their permanent possession. ‘Now if your fellow countryman becomes poor and his hand falters with you [that is, he has trouble repaying you for something], then you are to help and sustain him, [with courtesy and consideration] like [you would] a stranger or a temporary resident [without property], so that he may live among you. 36Do not charge him usurious interest, but fear your God [with profound reverence], so your countryman may [continue to] live among you. 37You shall not give him your money at interest, nor your food at a profit.
Read all of Leviticus 25Leviticus 25:35 word by word
וְכִֽי־יָמ֣וּךְ אָחִ֔יךָ וּמָ֥טָה יָד֖וֹ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהֶֽחֱזַ֣קְתָּ בּ֔וֹ גֵּ֧ר וְתוֹשָׁ֛ב וָחַ֖י עִמָּֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And if thy brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
- be waxen poorמוּךְmûk · be poorH4134
- and fallen in decayמוֹטmôţ · to shakeH4131
- with theeיָדyâd · hand: themselvesH3027
- then thou shalt relieveחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- a strangerגֵּרgêr gêyr · sojournerH1616
- or a sojournerתּוֹשָׁבtôshâb tôshâb · sojournerH8453
- that he may liveחַיchay · aliveH2416
Cross-references for Leviticus 25:35
- Leviticus 25:25‘If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell some of his property, then his nearest relative is to come and buy back (redeem) what his relative has sold.
- Deuteronomy 15:7“If there is a poor man among you, one of your fellow Israelites, in any of your cities in the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not be heartless, nor close-fisted with your poor brother;
- Proverbs 14:20The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.
- Proverbs 17:5Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker, And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.
- Proverbs 19:17He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord, And the Lord will repay him for his good deed.
- Mark 14:7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do something good to them; but you will not always have Me.
- John 12:8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:9For you are recognizing [more clearly] the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [His astonishing kindness, His generosity, His gracious favor], that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (abundantly blessed).
- James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and [as believers to be] heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
- Psalms 37:26All day long he is gracious and lends, And his descendants are a blessing.
- Psalms 41:1Blessed [by God’s grace and compassion] is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will save him in the day of trouble.
- Psalms 112:5It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He conducts his affairs with justice.
- Proverbs 14:31He who oppresses the poor taunts and insults his Maker, But he who is kind and merciful and gracious to the needy honors Him.
- Luke 6:35But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked.
- Acts 11:29So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each according to his individual ability, to the believers who lived in Judea.
- Romans 12:13contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.
Commentaries on Leviticus 25:35
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35Rather, And if thy brother (an Israelite) becomes poor and falls into decay with thee, thou shalt assist him and let him live with thee like a resident foreigner. He was not to be regarded as an outcast, but was to be treated with the same respect and consideration as a resident foreigner who, like him, could possess no land, but could accumulate property and live in comfort as a free man. See Leviticus 16:29 note.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-38Verses 35-38 Poverty and decay are great grievances, and very common; the poor ye have always with you. Thou shalt relieve him; by sympathy, pitying the poor; by service, doing for them; and by supply, giving to them according to their necessity, and thine ability. Poor debtors must not be oppressed. Observe the arguments here used against extortion: "Fear thy God." Relieve the poor, "that they may live with thee;" for they may be serviceable to thee. The…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 35destitute: Poor Israelites first asked their family for help (see study note on Leviticus 25:25). Second, they depended on the community. God commanded the people to help the poor instead of taking advantage of them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 35-3835-38. if thy brother be waxen poor, ... relieve him--This was a most benevolent provision for the poor and unfortunate, designed to aid them or alleviate the evils of their condition. Whether a native Israelite or a mere sojourner, his richer neighbor was required to give him food, lodging, and a supply of money without usury. Usury was severely condemned (Psa 15:5; Eze 18:8, 17), but the prohibition cannot be considered as applicable to the modern…Read the comment
Topics related to Leviticus 25:35
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Leviticus 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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