For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
You have demanded collateral from your fellow people for no good reason, and you have taken away clothing from those who had nothing else to give.
This verse accuses someone of taking advantage of poor and vulnerable people by demanding unnecessary security for loans and stripping away their basic necessities.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Job, this verse is part of Eliphaz's speech, where he falsely accuses Job of exploiting the vulnerable as a way to explain Job's suffering, even though Job is depicted as a righteous man. In ancient Israelite culture, taking a pledge referred to holding collateral like clothing for a loan, which was strictly regulated by the Mosaic Law to protect the poor from further hardship. This reflects the broader biblical emphasis on justice and mercy toward the needy in a society where debt and poverty were common challenges.
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