Deuteronomy 15:11

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

For the poor will never cease from the midst of the land; upon thus I command you, saying that you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy in your land.

Latin

Non deerunt pauperes in terra habitationis tuæ: idcirco ego præcipio tibi, ut aperias manum fratri tuo egeno et pauperi, qui tecum versatur in terra.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Deuteronomy 15:11

The fact that some people will always be poor in an imperfect world is not an excuse to ignore their struggles. Instead, it emphasizes the need for wealthy individuals to help improve the lives of the poor (Matthew 26:6–13).

Deuteronomy 15:1–23

The law of Moses included rules about borrowing and lending. Here, God commanded Israel to cancel debts in the seventh year and to lend generously to the poor.

These laws helped poor people survive times of need. They also placed limits on the wealthy so they would not take advantage of those who were vulnerable.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Christian Giving Concern for the Poor What Is Good

Related verses

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.”
Deuteronomy 15:8
Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.
Proverbs 22:2
The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD is Maker of them all.
1 John 3:16–18
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
Acts 4:32–35
The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.
Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
Acts 2:45
Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
2 Corinthians 8:2–9
In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
Acts 11:28–30
One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)

Deuteronomy 15:11

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