If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
If there is a poor person among your fellow Israelites in any town in the land the LORD your God is giving you, don't harden your heart or close your hand against your poor brother.
God is commanding His people not to ignore or refuse help to poor people in their community, but to keep their hearts and hands open to them.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of ancient Israel, Moses was delivering God's laws to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, emphasizing a society built on justice and mutual care. This verse is part of instructions on handling poverty during the sabbatical year, when debts were to be forgiven, to prevent perpetual economic inequality among the people. It reflects God's desire for a community where the vulnerable were protected, drawing from the Israelites' own experiences of slavery and deliverance in Egypt.
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