Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
You may charge interest when lending money to foreigners, but don't charge interest when lending to your fellow Israelites. Do this so that the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do in the land you're going to take possession of.
God is instructing His people to treat fellow believers with special kindness by not charging them interest, while promising His blessing on their work when they follow this command.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of ancient Israel, as described in the book of Deuteronomy, God was giving laws to the Israelites to guide their society as they prepared to enter and settle in the Promised Land. These laws addressed economic practices, including restrictions on charging interest on loans to fellow Israelites to promote community unity and prevent exploitation among God's chosen people. This distinction between lending to "brothers" (fellow Israelites) and "strangers" (foreigners) reflected the social and economic realities of the time, emphasizing fairness within the covenant community while allowing normal business dealings with outsiders.
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