Text -- Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (NET)

The Spirit of Liberality

15:7 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. 15:8 Instead, you must be sure to open your hand to him and generously lend him whatever he needs. 15:9 Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite and you do not lend him anything; he will cry out to the Lord against you and you will be regarded as having sinned. 15:10 You must by all means lend to him and not be upset by doing it, for because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you attempt. 15:11 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.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Deu 15:7

¹ tn Heb “one of your brothers” (so NASB); NAB “one of your kinsmen”; NRSV “a member of your community.” See the note at v. 2.

² tn Heb “gates.”

³ tn Heb “withdraw your hand.” Cf. NIV “hardhearted or tightfisted” (NRSV and NLT similar).

⁴ tn Heb “from your needy brother.”

NET Notes: Deu 15:8

¹ tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute before both verbs. The translation indicates the emphasis with the words “be sure to” and “generously,” respectively.

² tn Heb “whatever his need that he needs for himself.” This redundant expression has been simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons.

NET Notes: Deu 15:9

¹ tn Heb “your eye.”

² tn Heb “your needy brother.”

³ tn Heb “give” (likewise in v. 10).

⁴ tn Heb “it will be a sin to you.”

NET Notes: Deu 15:10

¹ tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “by all means.”

² tc Heb “your heart must not be grieved in giving to him.” The LXX and Orig add, “you shall surely lend to him sufficient for his need,” a suggestion based on the same basic idea in v. 8. Such slavish adherence to stock phrases is without warrant in most cases, and certainly here.

NET Notes: Deu 15:11

¹ tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis, which the translation indicates with “make sure.”

² tn Heb “your brother.”