Leviticus 25:37

37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury: nor exact of him any increase of fruits.

Leviticus 25:37 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 25:37

Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury
Lend him money, expecting and insisting upon a large interest for it; this is to be understood of persons in poor and necessitous circumstances, of which the text only speaks; otherwise, if persons borrow money to gain by it, to carry on a greater trade, or to make purchase with it, it is but reasonable that the lender should have a share of profit arising from thence: nor lend him thy victuals for increase;
by which it should seem that those two words, used in ( Leviticus 25:36 ) , though in the main they signify the same thing, yet may be distinguished, the one as concerning money, the other food; and which latter is not to be given by way of loan to a person in want of it, but freely; as for instance, if a man gives a poor man a bushel of wheat, on condition he gives him two for it hereafter, this is lending or giving his victuals for increase.

Leviticus 25:37 In-Context

35 If thy brother be impoverished, and weak of hand, and thou receive him as a stranger and sojourner, and he live with thee:

36 Take not usury of him nor more than thou gavest. Fear thy God, that thy brother may live with thee.

37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury: nor exact of him any increase of fruits.

38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that I might give you the land of Chanaan, and might be your God.

39 If thy brother constrained by poverty, sell himself to thee: thou shalt not oppress him with the service of bondservants.