Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. New Living Translation There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need. English Standard Version For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Berean Standard Bible For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. King James Bible For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. New King James Version For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’ New American Standard Bible For the poor will not cease to exist in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall fully open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’ NASB 1995 “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’ NASB 1977 “For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’ Legacy Standard Bible For the needy will never cease to be in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your afflicted and needy in your land.’ Amplified Bible For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.’ Christian Standard Bible For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.’ Holman Christian Standard Bible For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’” American Standard Version For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land. Contemporary English Version There will always be some Israelites who are poor and needy. That's why I am commanding you to be generous with them. English Revised Version For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thine hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land. GOD'S WORD® Translation There will always be poor people in the land. That's why I command you to be generous to other Israelites who are poor and needy. Good News Translation There will always be some Israelites who are poor and in need, and so I command you to be generous to them. International Standard Version Since poor people won't cease to exist in the land, therefore I'm commanding you: Be sure to be generous to your poor and needy relatives in your land." Majority Standard Bible For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. NET Bible There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open your hand to your fellow Israelites who are needy and poor in your land. New Heart English Bible For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command you, saying, You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. Webster's Bible Translation For the poor shall never cease from the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thy hand wide to thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. World English Bible For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionbecause the poor does not cease out of the land, therefore I am commanding you, saying, You certainly open your hand to your brother, to your poor and to your needy one in your land. Young's Literal Translation because the needy one doth not cease out of the land, therefore I am commanding thee, saying, Thou dost certainly open thy hand to thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy one, in thy land. Smith's Literal Translation For the needy shall not cease from the midst of thy land: for this I command thee, saying, Opening, thou shalt open thy hand to thy brother, to thy afflicted and to thy needy in thy land. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThere will not be wanting poor in the land of thy habitation: therefore I command thee to open thy hand to thy needy and poor brother, that liveth in the land. Catholic Public Domain Version The poor will not be absent from the land of your habitation. For this reason, I instruct you to open your hand to your indigent and poor brother, who lives among you in the land. New American Bible The land will never lack for needy persons; that is why I command you: “Open your hand freely to your poor and to your needy kin in your land.” New Revised Standard Version Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your poor brother and to the needy in your land. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For the poor does not cease from within the land, because of this, I command you and I say to you that you shall open your hand to your poor brother and to the afflicted who is in your land. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying: 'Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy brother, in thy land.' Brenton Septuagint Translation For the poor shall not fail off thy land, therefore I charge thee to do this thing, saying, Thou shalt surely open thine hands to thy poor brother, and to him that is distressed upon thy land. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Generosity in Lending and Giving…10Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand. 11For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. Cross References Matthew 26:11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. Mark 14:7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me. John 12:8 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.” Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. Proverbs 22:9 A generous man will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Luke 6:20-21 Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. / Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Luke 14:13-14 But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Acts 20:35 In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Galatians 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. James 2:15-16 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 1 John 3:17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? Leviticus 25:35 Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. Psalm 41:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble. Isaiah 58:7 Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58:10 and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. Treasury of Scripture For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy, in your land. Proverbs 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. Thou shalt Deuteronomy 15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. Jump to Previous Always Cease Command Commanding Countrymen Hand Need Needy Open Openhanded Orders Poor Surely Time Wide WithinJump to Next Always Cease Command Commanding Countrymen Hand Need Needy Open Openhanded Orders Poor Surely Time Wide WithinDeuteronomy 15 1. The seventh year a year of release for the poor7. one must be generous in lending or giving 12. A Hebrew servant, except by choice, must be freed in the seventh year 19. All firstborn males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord. For there will never cease to be poor in the land; This phrase acknowledges the persistent reality of poverty, a condition that has existed since the fall of man. In the context of ancient Israel, poverty was often due to factors like drought, war, or social injustice. The statement reflects a realistic view of human society, recognizing that despite efforts to alleviate poverty, it will always be present. This aligns with Jesus' words in Matthew 26:11, "The poor you will always have with you," indicating a continuity of this condition throughout history. Theologically, it underscores the fallen nature of the world and the ongoing need for compassion and justice. that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God, receiving the law and commandments as they prepare to settle in Canaan. 3. The Promised Land (Canaan) The land promised by God to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where the Israelites are to establish a society based on God's laws. 4. The Poor and Needy Individuals within the Israelite community who lack resources and require assistance from their fellow Israelites. 5. God's Command The divine instruction to care for the poor, emphasizing the perpetual presence of poverty and the need for generosity. Teaching Points Perpetual Presence of PovertyRecognize that poverty is a constant reality in a fallen world, necessitating ongoing compassion and action. Divine Command for Generosity Understand that God's command to care for the poor is not optional but a fundamental aspect of living out one's faith. Community Responsibility Embrace the responsibility of the faith community to support and uplift those in need, reflecting God's love and justice. Open-Handed Living Cultivate a lifestyle of open-handedness, where resources are shared freely and generously with those in need. Reflecting God's Character By caring for the poor, believers reflect God's character and His concern for justice and mercy.(11) For the poor shall never cease.--There is no contradiction between this verse and Deuteronomy 15:4 above. There will always be some men falling into poverty; but it is our business to see that they do not remain in want. The poor will never cease, except by the provision made for them by their brethren. God will never make all men absolutely equal in this world. Thy brother, thy poor, and thy needy.-According to Rashi, the word translated "needy" is stronger than the word for "poor." The "poor" are in humble circumstances; the "needy" are actually in want. In commenting on this verse, Rashi asks a similar question to that of the lawyer in Luke 10:29, "Who is this brother? Thy poor man." He might have added that "thy poor" and "thy needy" are expressions teaching the truth that we are "members one of another." We may not pass by our poorer brethren, and say we have nothing to do with them. Jehovah calls them ours--"thy poor man," and "thy needy man." The words are both in the singular number in the Hebrew. We cannot shake off the relationship or the responsibility in any one case. Verse 11. - They were to open their hand wide to their poorer brethren, for there should always be such in the land. This statement is not inconsistent with that in ver. 4, for there it is the prevention of poverty by not dealing harshly with the poor that is spoken of; here it is the continuance of occasion for the relief of the poor that is referred to.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction there will never לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no cease יֶחְדַּ֥ל (yeḥ·dal) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2308: To be flabby, desist, be lacking, idle to be poor אֶבְי֖וֹן (’eḇ·yō·wn) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor in מִקֶּ֣רֶב (miq·qe·reḇ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center the land; הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land that is why עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against I אָנֹכִ֤י (’ā·nō·ḵî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 595: I am commanding you מְצַוְּךָ֙ (mə·ṣaw·wə·ḵā) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order to לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say open פָּ֠תֹחַ (pā·ṯō·aḥ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve wide תִּפְתַּ֨ח (tip̄·taḥ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve your hand יָדְךָ֜ (yā·ḏə·ḵā) Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 3027: A hand to your brother לְאָחִ֧יךָ (lə·’ā·ḥî·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 251: A brother, ) and to the poor לַעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָ (la·‘ă·nî·ye·ḵā) Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble and needy וּלְאֶבְיֹנְךָ֖ (ū·lə·’eḇ·yō·nə·ḵā) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor in your land. בְּאַרְצֶֽךָ׃ (bə·’ar·ṣe·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Links Deuteronomy 15:11 NIVDeuteronomy 15:11 NLT Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV Deuteronomy 15:11 NASB Deuteronomy 15:11 KJV Deuteronomy 15:11 BibleApps.com Deuteronomy 15:11 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 15:11 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 15:11 French Bible Deuteronomy 15:11 Catholic Bible OT Law: Deuteronomy 15:11 For the poor will never cease out (Deut. 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