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.
And this is how the release works: Every person who has lent money to their neighbor must cancel the debt. They must not demand payment from their neighbor or fellow Israelite, because this is called the LORD's release.
God is commanding that every seven years, all debts between Israelites must be forgiven and canceled completely.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes the Sabbatical Year law given to Israel, where every seventh year all debts between fellow Israelites were to be completely forgiven. This was part of God's economic system designed to prevent permanent poverty and ensure that no family would be trapped in endless debt cycles. The practice created a reset mechanism that promoted social justice and reminded the people that ultimately everything belonged to God.
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