Deuteronomy 15:7
New International Version
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.

New Living Translation
“But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them.

English Standard Version
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

Berean Standard Bible
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,

New American Standard Bible
“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

NASB 1995
“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

NASB 1977
“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

Legacy Standard Bible
“If there is a needy one among you, one of your brothers, in any of your gates of the towns in your land which Yahweh your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand from your needy brother;

Amplified Bible
“If there is a poor man among you, one of your fellow Israelites, in any of your cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not be heartless, nor close-fisted with your poor brother;

Christian Standard Bible
“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.

American Standard Version
If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother;

Contemporary English Version
After the LORD your God gives land to each of you, there may be poor Israelites in the town where you live. If there are, then don't be mean and selfish with your money.

English Revised Version
If there be with thee a poor man, 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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what you must do whenever there are poor Israelites in one of your cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Good News Translation
"If in any of the towns in the land that the LORD your God is giving you there are Israelites in need, then do not be selfish and refuse to help them.

International Standard Version
"If there should be a poor man among your relatives in one of the cities of the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don't be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative.

Majority Standard Bible
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

NET Bible
If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the LORD your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition.

New Heart English Bible
If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;

Webster's Bible Translation
If there shall be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD the God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother:

World English Bible
If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When there is with you any poor of one of your brothers, in one of your cities, in your land which your God YHWH is giving to you, you do not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother;

Young's Literal Translation
'When there is with thee any needy one of one of thy brethren, in one of thy cities, in thy land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, thou dost not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother;

Smith's Literal Translation
When the needy shall be among thee, from one of thy brethren, in one of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God gave to thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, and thou shalt not shut thy hand from thy needy brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If one of thy brethren that dwelleth within the gates of thy city in the land which the Lord thy God will give thee, come to poverty: thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor close thy hand,

Catholic Public Domain Version
If one of your brothers, who dwells within the gates of your city, in the land which the Lord your God will give to you, falls into poverty, you shall not harden your heart, nor tighten your hand.

New American Bible
If one of your kindred is in need in any community in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand against your kin who is in need.

New Revised Standard Version
If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If there is among you a poor person of one of your brethren within any of your towns in the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if there will be a poor one among you, one of your brethren in one of your cities in the land that LORD JEHOVAH your God gives to you, you shall not harden your heart and you shall not shut your hand from your poor brother:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If there be among you a needy man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if there shall be in the midst of thee a poor man of thy brethren in one of thy cities in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, neither shalt thou by any means close up thine hand from thy brother who is in want.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Generosity in Lending and Giving
7If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. 8Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.…

Cross References
Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Luke 6:34-36
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. / But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. / Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

1 John 3:17-18
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? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

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?

Proverbs 28:27
Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / 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?

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 6:9-10
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. / Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. / Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

Leviticus 25:35-37
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. / Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. / You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.

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.

Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

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.”

Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.


Treasury of Scripture

If there be among you a poor man of one of your brothers within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother:

thou shalt

Deuteronomy 15:9
Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Proverbs 21:13
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Matthew 18:30
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

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Deuteronomy 15
1. The seventh year a year of release for the poor
7. 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.














If there is a poor man
The Hebrew word for "poor" here is "אֶבְיוֹן" (evyon), which refers to someone who is needy or destitute. In the ancient Israelite context, poverty was often a result of various factors such as crop failure, illness, or social injustice. The presence of poverty among the Israelites was a test of their obedience to God's commands and their compassion towards one another. This phrase sets the stage for a divine mandate to care for those in need, reflecting God's heart for justice and mercy.

among your brothers
The term "brothers" (אֲחִים, achim) emphasizes the familial relationship among the Israelites. It underscores the idea that the Israelites were not just a collection of tribes but a family under God. This familial language is a call to solidarity and mutual responsibility, reminding the Israelites that they are to treat each other with the same care and concern as they would their own kin.

within any of the gates
The "gates" (שְׁעָרֶיךָ, she'arecha) were the entry points to cities and towns, often serving as places of judgment, commerce, and community gathering. Mentioning the gates highlights the public and communal aspect of addressing poverty. It suggests that caring for the poor is not just a private matter but a community responsibility, to be addressed openly and with accountability.

in the land that the LORD your God is giving you
This phrase reminds the Israelites of the divine origin of their land. The land is a gift from God, and with it comes the responsibility to steward it according to His laws. The Israelites are to remember that their blessings are not solely for personal gain but are to be shared, especially with those in need. This divine gift comes with an expectation of generosity and justice.

you are not to harden your heart
The phrase "harden your heart" (תְאַמֵּץ לְבָבְךָ, te'ametz levavecha) is a call against insensitivity and indifference. In biblical terms, the heart is the center of will and emotion. To harden one's heart is to become unresponsive to God's commands and the needs of others. This warning is a call to maintain a tender and responsive heart, open to the promptings of compassion and mercy.

or shut your hand
The imagery of a "shut hand" (תִּקְפֹּץ אֶת־יָדְךָ, tikpotz et-yadcha) conveys the idea of withholding aid or being stingy. In contrast, an open hand symbolizes generosity and willingness to help. This command is a direct call to action, urging the Israelites to be proactive in their generosity, reflecting God's own open-handedness towards His people.

from your poor brother
Reiterating the familial term "brother" reinforces the personal nature of this command. The use of "your" personalizes the responsibility, making it clear that each individual is accountable for the welfare of their fellow Israelites. This phrase serves as a reminder that poverty is not an abstract issue but a personal one, affecting real people within the community. It calls for a compassionate response rooted in the recognition of shared humanity and divine kinship.

(7) A poor man.-"That needeth anything."

Within any of thy gates.--"The poor of thine own city come before the poor of another city."

Thou Shalt not harden.--"There are some men who 'grieve' (grudge) whether they give or not;" therefore it is said, "Thou shalt not harden thy heart; there are some who stretch out the hand (to give), and yet close it; therefore it is said, Thou shalt not shut thine hand."

Verses 7-11. - The reference to the release leads to a prescription regarding readiness to lend to the poor. They were not to harden their hearts against their poorer brethren, nor were they, in the prospect of the year of release, to refuse to lend them what was necessary for their uses, but, on the contrary, were to open their heart and their hand to them according to their need, lest the poor should appeal against them to God, and sin should lie upon them. Verse 7. - Harden thine heart; literally, maize strong, so as to suppress natural compassion and sympathy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there is
יִהְיֶה֩ (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a poor man
אֶבְי֜וֹן (’eḇ·yō·wn)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

among
בְךָ֨ (ḇə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

your brothers
אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ (’a·ḥe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

within any
בְּאַחַ֣ד (bə·’a·ḥaḏ)
Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the gates
שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ (šə·‘ā·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

in the land
בְּאַ֨רְצְךָ֔ (bə·’ar·ṣə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

that
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is giving you,
נֹתֵ֣ן (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you are not
לֹ֧א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to harden
תְאַמֵּ֣ץ (ṯə·’am·mêṣ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 553: To be stout, strong, bold, alert

your heart
לְבָבְךָ֗ (lə·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

[or]
וְלֹ֤א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

shut
תִקְפֹּץ֙ (ṯiq·pōṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7092: To draw together, close, to leap, to die

your hand
יָ֣דְךָ֔ (yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

from your poor
הָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ (hā·’eḇ·yō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

brother.
מֵאָחִ֖יךָ (mê·’ā·ḥî·ḵā)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be with you a poor (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 15:6
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