Leviticus 25:36

Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

Leviticus 25:36 (KJV)

Context

Leviticus 25 gives Israel the laws for the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee. These rules shaped an agrarian society where land and labor were central. God designed them to prevent lasting poverty, protect the vulnerable, and keep the community united. This verse sits within that larger system of economic justice. The command is not a general ban on all lending. It targets a specific situation: a fellow Israelite who has become poor and needs help to recover.

Meaning

The command “Take thou no usury of him, or increase” forbids charging interest or seeking profit from a poor fellow Israelite. Usury here means exploiting someone’s need for personal gain. The goal is not merely to avoid harm but to lend in a way that helps the brother recover his livelihood and secure his future. The phrase “but fear thy God” gives the reason for this ethic. Reverence for God, who sees what is done in secret, should govern every transaction. The purpose clause “that thy brother may live with thee” shows the heart of the law: the brother’s life and continued place in the community matter more than personal profit. This is not about temporary relief; it is about restoring the brother to a stable life.

Biblical connections

Related commands in Leviticus 25 reinforce this teaching. Verse 17 warns against oppressing one another, and verse 43 forbids ruling over a poor brother with rigor. Both appeal to the fear of God as the foundation for fair treatment. Together they show that economic conduct is never separate from worship. The fear of God is a recurring theme in Scripture, representing reverence, obedience, and recognition of His sovereignty. It reminds believers that all transactions happen under His watchful eye.

Application

This verse calls believers to examine how they handle money and power. Fair lending means not taking advantage of another’s hardship. Instead, we are to show compassion and seek the other person’s good. The fear of God should shape our integrity, honesty, and accountability in all financial dealings. Building community means caring for one another so that no one is left behind or crushed by debt. When we lend, we can ask how our actions affect the borrower’s ability to live and thrive. We can also consider whether we are motivated by profit or by love for our neighbor.

Reflection

God’s law here is not a burden but a protection. It guards the poor from exploitation and the lender from greed. When we act with reverence for God and love for our neighbor, we create a place where everyone can live and flourish together. This command challenges us to see our resources as tools for building up others, not for enriching ourselves at their expense. It invites us to trust that God, who sees all, will honor those who deal justly and mercifully.