God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 15:2
2This is what you will do: If you’ve made a loan, don’t collect payment on the debt your neighbor still owes you. Don’t demand that your neighbor or relative pay you, because the ⌞time⌟ for suspending payments on debts has been proclaimed in the Lord’s honor.
Deuteronomy 15:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord’s release.
- New International Version (NIV)This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord's release has been proclaimed.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release.
Context of Deuteronomy 15:2
1At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts. This is what you will do: If you’ve made a loan, don’t collect payment on the debt your neighbor still owes you. Don’t demand that your neighbor or relative pay you, because the ⌞time⌟ for suspending payments on debts has been proclaimed in the Lord’s honor. 3You may demand that a foreigner pay, but don’t collect payment on the debt another Israelite still owes you. 4In any case, there shouldn’t be any poor people among you, because the Lord your God will certainly bless you in the land he is giving you as your own possession.
Read all of Deuteronomy 15Deuteronomy 15:2 word by word
וְזֶה֮ דְּבַ֣ר הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ שָׁמ֗וֹט כָּל־בַּ֙עַל֙ מַשֵּׁ֣ה יָד֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַשֶּׁ֖ה בְּרֵעֵ֑הוּ לֹֽא־יִגֹּ֤שׂ אֶת־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ וְאֶת־אָחִ֔יו כִּֽי־קָרָ֥א שְׁמִטָּ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- the mannerדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
- of the releaseשְׁמִטָּהshemiţţâh · remissionH8059
- Every creditorיָדyâd · handH3027
- Every creditorמַשֶּׁהmashsheh · loanH4874
- Every creditorבַּעַלba‛al · master: [master of]H1167
- that lendethנָשָׁהnâshâh · to lendH5383
- unto his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- shall releaseשָׁמַטshâmaţ · to releaseH8058
- he shall not exactנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
- or of his brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
- because it is calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
- the Lord’sיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 15:2
- Nehemiah 5:7After thinking it over, I confronted the nobles and the leaders. I told them, “You are charging interest on loans made to your own relatives.” I arranged for a large meeting to deal with them.
- Isaiah 58:3Why have we fasted if you are not aware of it? Why have we inflicted pain on ourselves if you don’t pay attention? Don’t you see that on the days you fast, you do what you want to do? You mistreat all your workers.
- Amos 8:4Listen to this, those who trample on the needy and ruin those who are oppressed in the world.
- Matthew 6:12Forgive us as we forgive others.
- Matthew 18:25Because he could not pay off the debt, the master ordered him, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold to pay off the account.
- Luke 6:34If you lend anything to those from whom you expect to get something back, do you deserve any thanks for that? Sinners also lend to sinners to get back what they lend.
- Luke 7:42When they couldn’t pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?”
- James 2:13No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 15:2
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-11Verses 1-11 The year of release is no doubt identical with the sabbatical year of the earlier legislation (Exodus 23:10 ff, and Leviticus 25:2 ff), the command of the older legislation being here amplified. The release was probably for the year, not total and final, and had reference only to loans lent because of poverty (compare Deuteronomy 15:4, Deuteronomy 15:7). Yet even so the law was found to be too stringent for the avarice of the people, because…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The remission happened every seventh year across the nation ("the Sabbath year," Leviticus 25:1–7). The timing followed the national calendar, not the date when a loan was made. As a result, a loan could be canceled only one year after it was given.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it--not by an absolute discharge of the debt, but by passing over that year without exacting payment. The relief was temporary and peculiar to that year during which there was a total suspension of agricultural labor. he shall not exact it ... of his brother--that is, an Israelite, so called in opposition to a stranger or foreigner. because it is called the Lord's release--The reason…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 15:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 15
- 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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