Deuteronomy 15:7–8
Do not harden your heart or close your hand to a brother in need
Study it word by word7If there is among you a needy one, one of your brothers, in one of your gates in your land that YHWH your Elohim is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your brother, the needy one.
8But you shall freely open your hand to him and freely lend him enough for his need, whatever he lacks.
In its context
5if only you truly obey the voice of YHWH your Elohim, being careful to carry out all this commandment that I am commanding you today.
6For YHWH your Elohim has blessed you, as he has spoken to you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but over you they will not rule.
…
9Guard yourself so that there is not a wicked word in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” and your eye is evil toward your brother, the needy one, and you do not give him anything, and he cries out against you to YHWH, and it becomes sin in you.
10You shall freely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because on account of this thing YHWH your Elohim will bless you in all your work and in every undertaking of your hand.
Its words in the original
- יִהְיֶהyihye· be, become, happen
Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".
- אֶבְיוֹןevyon· needy
Needy: one who depends on the help of others.
- אַחַדachad· one
One; only, the same. Also "first" in a series.
- אַחֶיache· brother
Brother; also a close relative, or someone of the same people.
- שְׁעָרֶיsheare· gate
Gate of a city. It was also the open place where the elders met, business was done and disputes were judged.
- אַרְצְarts· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- אֱלֹהֶיelohe· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- נֹתֵןnoten· give, put, set
Give, in a very wide sense: hand over, put, place, grant, allow, make something be.
- תְאַמֵּץteamets· be strong, prevail
Be strong, prevail over; take courage, be bold; make strong.
- לְבָבְlevav· heart
Heart: the inner part of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
- תִקְפֹּץtikpots· shut
Shut, close the hand: refuse to give; also to draw together.
- יָדְyad· hand, power
Hand. Figuratively, power or control ("into the hand of" = into the power of); also side, part, or share. Also a projecting piece, such as a tenon.
- פָתֹחַfatoach· open, engrave
Open; loosen, set free. In another form, engrave (cut lines in stone or metal).
- הַעֲבֵטhaavet· lend, take a pledge
Lend on a pledge; in another form of the verb, borrow by leaving a pledge, or take a pledge.
- דֵּיde· enough
Enough, what is sufficient; with prepositions, "as often as", "according to".
- מַחְסֹרmachsor· need, lack
Need, lack: what someone is missing.
- יֶחְסַרyechsar· lack, be lacking
Lack, be short of; decrease.
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