Deuteronomy 23:19

Modern

Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan.

Traditional

Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

Literal

Do not lend in usury to your brother—usury of silver, usury of food, usury of anything that is lent on usury.

Latin

Non fœnerabis fratri tuo ad usuram pecuniam, nec fruges, nec quamlibet aliam rem:

Hebrew

English

Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan.

The word translated as interest is related to a noun meaning "bite." Charging interest was like "biting" the debtor. See also Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36–37; Nehemiah 5:1–13; Psalm 15:5.

Theme notes and profiles

Exodus 22:25
If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
Psalm 15:5
…who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
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.
Ezekiel 18:7–8
He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
Luke 6:34–35
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.
Ezekiel 18:16–18
He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
Ezekiel 18:13
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.
Ezekiel 22:12
In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.
Nehemiah 5:1–7
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.