Deuteronomy 23:19 — Word Study
WLCלֹא־ תַשִּׁ֣יךְ לְאָחִ֔יךָ נֶ֥שֶׁךְ כֶּ֖סֶף נֶ֣שֶׁךְ אֹ֑כֶל נֶ֕שֶׁךְ כָּל־ דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשָּֽׁךְ׃
BSADo notlôʼ [under any circumstances] or anykôl
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| תַשִּׁ֣יךְ | you will charge interest | Verb, Hiphil, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| לְאָחִ֔יךָ | to countryman your | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| נֶ֥שֶׁךְ | interest of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| כֶּ֖סֶף | money | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| נֶ֣שֶׁךְ | interest of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| אֹ֑כֶל | food | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| נֶ֕שֶׁךְ | interest of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| כָּל־ | any | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| דָּבָ֖ר | thing | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | which | Particle |
| יִשָּֽׁךְ׃ | someone will pay interest | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. |
| KJV | ¶ Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: |
| ASV | Thou shalt not lend upon interest to thy brother; interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of anything that is lent upon interest. |
| YLT | 'Thou dost not lend in usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of food, usury of anything which is lent on usury. |
| WEB | You shall not lend on interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest. |
| BBE | Do not take interest from an Israelite on anything, money or food or any other goods, which you let him have: |
The translations agree on the prohibition of charging interest to fellow Israelites.
The sentence structure is straightforward, with a clear command followed by specifications of what it pertains to.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבּוֹא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 23:19
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws on Lending and Fairnessgenerated
Deuteronomy 23:19 is part of a series of laws given by Moses to the Israelites, emphasizing ethical behavior in their community. This particular verse addresses the importance of not exploiting fellow Israelites through usury, a practice condemned throughout the Scriptures. The surrounding verses reinforce the necessity of fairness and integrity in all dealings, particularly in financial matters, as seen in Deuteronomy 23:20 and Exodus 22:25.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | Nehemiah 5:1–7 | About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. |
| 4 | 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. |
| 5 | 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. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נֶ֫שֶׁךְ, Ne.shekhgenerated
The noun נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (neshek) refers specifically to interest or usury, derived from a root meaning 'to bite.' This term captures the idea of something being 'bitten off,' which metaphorically relates to the excessive gain taken from lending money. In this verse, it emphasizes the prohibition against charging interest to fellow Israelites.
The word's use in the context of financial transactions highlights the ethical implications of lending practices within the community. By forbidding נֶ֫שֶׁךְ, the text underscores the expectation of compassion and fairness in dealings among those who share a covenant relationship with God.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the finite verb תַשִּׁ֣יךְ, you will charge, with a prepositional phrase indicating to whom it applies: לְאָחִ֔יךָ, to your brother. The structure emphasizes the direct command to the individual regarding their financial dealings.
The sentence lists multiple objects of the verb, detailing the types of loans prohibited: כֶּ֖סֶף (money), אֹ֑כֶל (food), and כָּל־דָּבָ֖ר (any other thing). This enumeration clarifies the broad scope of the command.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נֶ֫שֶׁךְ as ἄλλαγμα, which carries the meaning of 'exchange' or 'money.' This choice reflects a broader interpretation of financial transactions, focusing on the exchange aspect rather than the specific prohibition of interest.
This rendering shows a slight widening of the concept, emphasizing the overall integrity required in financial dealings, not just the prohibition of interest.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 23:19 instructs the Israelites not to charge interest on loans to their fellow countrymen, emphasizing fairness and compassion in financial dealings. This command is part of a broader set of laws aimed at ensuring justice and integrity within the community.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Charging interest refers to the practice of demanding additional payment on a loan, which can lead to exploitation if the rates are excessive.
The prohibition aims to foster a sense of community and mutual support among the Israelites, preventing financial exploitation within the covenant community.
Yes, the verse specifies that interest may be charged to foreigners, indicating a distinction in treatment based on community membership.
This command encourages ethical lending practices today, promoting fairness and compassion in financial transactions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I apply the principle of fairness in my financial dealings?
- What steps can I take to support those in need without expecting anything in return?
- In what ways does this command challenge my understanding of generosity?
- How can I encourage others in my community to practice ethical lending?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers also addressed the principles of lending and usury, as seen in the writings of Ambrose of Milan, who emphasizes the moral obligation to lend without interest.
[Scripture] orders money to be returned without usury. It is a mark of kindly feeling to help one who has nothing. It is a sign of a hard nature to extort more than one has given.Early Church Fathers on Deuteronomy 23 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 23:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother,.... One of the same nation and religion, and who is in poor and necessitous circumstances, and wants either food for himself and family, or money to
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 23 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother ... unto a stranger.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 23 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. So as to receive thy principal money or thing left with such increase or improvement of it, as was usual and allowed among the Gentiles. But whether all usury be unlawful to Christians is too great a question to be determined in a work of this nature. See .
Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 23 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDeuteronomy 23:19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:Ver. 19. Thou shalt not lend upon usury.] Heb., Upon biting usury. It must needs bite at length that licks so clean. Amalek, the licking people, I mean the nation of usurers and their factors, as cormorants, fall upon the poor borrower, and with open mouth devour him. “Eστιτοκοςπροτοκοιο, τοκοςγεμενεστικαιαλλος.” Faenus a multiplici foetu, ut τοκοςατοκτω. In the year 1235, there were spread through England certain Roman usurers, called Caursini, quasi capientes Ursi; devouring bears, saith Matthew Paris. These bite to purpose. Others are more cunning…
Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 23 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(19, 20) Usury.—See Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-36. Some recent writers on this law have thought that it forbids the putting out of money to interest. But it is noticeable that in both the previous passages referred to (in Exod. and Lev.) the loan is supposed to be made to a “poor man” in “real distress.” Usury in such cases means oppression; and so it is proved to be by the examples given in Nehemiah 5:2-5; Nehemiah 5:10-12. The connection between this exaction and modern investments is not obvious, except in a very few cases. The Mosaic law against usury does not belong to commerce with other nations; it is part of the poor law of the land of Israel.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 23 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 19. Usury] See Clarke on Leviticus 25:36.
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 23 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible19, 20. Not lend upon usury — Not to a brother Israelite. Compare Exodus 22:25, and Leviticus 25:36-37.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 23 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan.
You shall not lend on interest to your brother: interest of money, interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest.
Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan.
You must not charge interest on a loan to your fellow Israelite, whether on money, food, or anything else that has been loaned with interest.
Tyndale line
¶ Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
Thou shalt not lend upon interest to thy brother; interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of anything that is lent upon interest.
Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
Thou shalt not lend upon interest to thy brother; interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of any thing that is lent upon interest:
Thou shalt not giue to vsurie to thy brother: as vsurie of money, vsurie of meate, vsurie of any thing that is put to vsurie.
Strictly literal
Thou shalt take no interest of thy brother, interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of anything that can be lent upon interest:
'Thou dost not lend in usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of food, usury of anything which is lent on usury.
You do not lend in usury to your brother—usury of money, usury of food, usury of anything which is lent on usury.
(23:20) Thou shalt not take interest from thy brother, interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of any thing that is lent upon interest:
You must not lend on interest to your fellow Israelite—interest of money, interest of food, or the interest of anything that is lent on interest.
From the Latin
Thou shalt not lend to thy brother money to usury, nor corn, nor any other thing:
Simplified
Don't charge a fellow Israelite interest on money, food, or any other kind of loan.
Do not take interest from an Israelite on anything, money or food or any other goods, which you let him have:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew closely, maintaining the same core message, while the Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration but align with the Masoretic Text in meaning.
לֹא־ תַשִּׁ֣יךְ לְאָחִ֔יךָ נֶ֥שֶׁךְ כֶּ֖סֶף נֶ֣שֶׁךְ אֹ֑כֶל נֶ֕שֶׁךְ כָּל־ דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִשָּֽׁךְ׃
12 of the 12 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לא תביא אתנן זונה ומחיר כלב בית יהוה אלהיך לכל נדר כי תועבת יהוה אלהיך גם שׁניהם
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[לא] [תביא] אתנן זונה [ומחיר] [כלב] [בית] [יהוה] [אלהי׳ך] [לכל] [נדר] [כי] [תועבת] [יהוה] אלהי׳ך גם שני׳הם
4 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 12 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 23:19
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
נָשַׁךְ (nashak) primarily means 'to bite,' as in the action of striking with a sting, often associated with serpents. It also has a figurative sense related to financial transactions, specifically to 'pay interest' or 'lend upon usury.' The entries indicate that it can be used in different grammatical forms, such as Qal and Piel for biting, and Qal and Hiphil for lending with interest.
נָשַׁךְ vb. bite
Qal bite
Pi. and they shall bite you fatally
base
[נָשַׁךְ] vb. denom pay, give interest
Qal interest of anything off which one giveth interest
Hiph. make one give interest
base
H5391a נָשַׁךְ bite H5391b נָשַׁךְ vb. denom pay, give interest
5391 nashak naw-shak'
a primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent);
figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan:--bite, lend
upon usury.
נָשַׁךְ (na.shakh) — to bite.
1) to bite
1a) (Qal) to bite
1b) (Piel) to bite
נָשַׁךְ (na.shakh) — to pay interest.
1) to pay, give interest, lend for interest or usury
1a) (Qal) to give interest
1b) (Hiphil) to make to give interest
HVhi2ms — Verb · Hiphil · imperfect second person masculine singularHVhi2ms
in'-ter-est (neshekh, mashsha'; tokos): The Hebrew word neshekh is from a root which means "to bite"; thus interest is "something bitten off." The other word, mashsa', means "lending on interest." The Greek term is from the root tikto, "to produce" or "beget," hence, interest is something begotten or produced by money. The Hebrew words are usually translated "usury," but this meant the same as interest, all interest being reckoned as usury.
Long before Abraham's time money had been loaned at a fixed rate of interest in Babylonia and almost certainly in Egypt. The Code of Hammurabi gives regulations regarding the lending and borrowing of money, the usual interest being 20 percent. Sometimes it was only 11 2/3 and 13 1/3, as shown by contract tablets. In one case, if the loan was not paid in two months, 18 per cent interest would be charged. Corn (grain), dates, onions, etc., were loaned…
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (neshek) refers to interest or usury, literally meaning something that is 'bitten off.' It is derived from the root word for 'bite' and is primarily used in the context of financial transactions involving debt.
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ n.[m.] interest, usury (lit. something bitten off)
base
H5392 נֶ֫שֶׁךְ interest, usury (lit. something bitten off)
5392 neshek neh'-shek
from 5391; interest on a debt:--usury.
see HEBREW for 05391
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (ne.shekh) — interest.
interest, usury
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) refers to silver and money, derived from a root meaning 'to be pale.' It encompasses various aspects of silver, including its use as a metal, ornament, and a measure of wealth or value. The term appears in contexts related to payment and price, indicating its significance in transactions.
כֶּ֫סֶף 402 n.m. silver, money
= silver ore, raw silver
silver as bright, shining
silver, as wealth
silver as spoil of war
silver as merchandise
silver as costly gift
silver as material
silver as measure of weight and value
among vbs. and phr.
base
H3701 כֶּ֫סֶף silver, money
3701 keceph keh'-sef
from 3700; silver (from its pale color); by implication,
money:--money, price, silver(-ling).
see HEBREW for 03700
כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: money.
: money/payment/silver
1) silver, money
1a) silver
1a1) as metal
1a2) as ornament
1a3) as colour
1b) money, shekels, talents
כֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) — silver: price.
: price
1) silver, money
1a) silver
1a1) as metal
1a2) as ornament
1a3) as colour
1b) money, shekels, talents
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
mun'-i: Various terms are used for money in the Bible, but the most common are the Hebrew keceph, and Greek argurion, both meaning silver. We find also qesiTah, rendered by Septuagint "lambs," probably referring to money in a particular form; chalkos, is used for money in Mt 10:9; Mr 6:8; 12:41. It was the name of a small coin of Agrippa II (Madden, Coins of the Jews); chrema, "price," is rendered money in Ac 4:37; 8:18,20; 24:26; kerma, "piece," i.e. piece of money (Joh 2:15); didrachmon, "tribute money" (Mt 17:24 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "half-shekel"); kensos, "census,"…
Money
Of uncoined money the first notice we have is in the history of Abraham (Gen. 13:2; 20:16; 24:35). Next, this word is used in connection with the purchase of the cave of Machpelah (23:16), and again in connection with Jacob’s purchase of a field at Shalem (Gen. 33:18, 19) for “an hundred pieces of money”=an hundred Hebrew kesitahs (q.v.), i.e., probably pieces of money, as is supposed, bearing the figure of a lamb.
The history of Joseph affords evidence of the constant use of money, silver of a fixed weight. This appears also in all the subsequent history of the Jewish people, in all their internal as well as foreign transactions. There were in common use in trade silver pieces of a definite weight, shekels, half-shekels, and quarter-shekels. But these were not properly…
Uncointed money. --It is well known that ancient nations that were without a coinage weighed the precious metals, a practice represented on the Egyptian monuments, on which gold and silver are shown to have been kept in the form of rings. We have no evidence of the use of coined money before the return from the Babylonian captivity; but silver was used for money, in quantities determined by weight, at least as early as the time of Abraham; and its earliest mention is in the generic sense of the price paid for a slave. (Genesis 17:13) The 1000 pieces of silver paid by Abimelech to Abraham, (Genesis 20:16) and the 20 pieces of silver for which Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites, (Genesis 37:28) were probably rings such as we…
Was anciently weighed, and did not at first exist in the form of coins. The most ancient commerce was conducted by barter, or exchanging one sort of merchandise for another. One man gave what he could spare to another, who gave him in return part of his superabundance. Afterwards, the more precious metals were used in traffic, as a value more generally known and stated, and the amount agreed upon was paid over by weight, Ge 23:16 43:21 Ex 30:24. Lastly they gave this metal, a certain weight, and a certain degree of alloy, to fix its value, and to save buyers and sellers the trouble of weighing and examining the coins. The first regular coinage among the Jews is supposed to have been in the time of Simon Maccabaeus, less than a century and a half before Christ. The coins were the…
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (neshek) refers to interest or usury, literally meaning something that is 'bitten off.' It is derived from the root word for 'bite' and is primarily used in the context of financial transactions involving debt.
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ n.[m.] interest, usury (lit. something bitten off)
base
H5392 נֶ֫שֶׁךְ interest, usury (lit. something bitten off)
5392 neshek neh'-shek
from 5391; interest on a debt:--usury.
see HEBREW for 05391
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (ne.shekh) — interest.
interest, usury
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אֹ֫כֶל (okel) means food and encompasses a range of meanings including meal, meat, and food supply. It is derived from the root word for eating. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as meals and victuals, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among the lexicons.
אֹ֫כֶל 40 n.m. food
base
H400 אֹ֫כֶל food
400 'okel o'-kel
from 398; food:--eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey,
victuals.
see HEBREW for 0398
אֹ֫כֶל (o.khel) — food.
1) food
1a) cereal
1b) meat
2) food supply
3) meal, dinner
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
food:
I. VEGETABLE FOODS
1. Primitive Habits
2. Cereals
3. Leguminous Plants
4. Food of Trees
II. ANIMAL FOOD
LITERATURE
In a previous article (see BREAD) it has been shown that in the Bible "bread" usually stands for food in general and how this came to be so. In a complementary article on MEALS the methods of preparing and serving food will be dealt with. This article is devoted specifically to the foodstuffs of the Orient, more especially to articles of food in use among the Hebrews in Bible times. These are divisible into two main classes.
Food
Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2-5). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6-8; 25:34; 27:3, 4; 43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex.…
The diet of eastern nations has been in all ages light and simple. Vegetable food was more used than animal. The Hebrews used a great variety of articles, (John 21:5) to give a relish to bread. Milk and its preparations hold a conspicuous place in eastern diet, as affording substantial nourishment; generally int he form of the modern leben , i.e. sour milk. Authorized Version "butter;" (Genesis 18:8; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29) Fruit was another source of subsistence: figs stood first in point of importance; they were generally dried and pressed into cakes. Grapes were generally eaten in a dried state as raisins. Of vegetables we have most frequent notice of lentils…
In ancient the food of a people was more entirely the product of their own country than in our day. Palestine was favored with an abundance of animal food, grain, and vegetables. But throughout the East, vegetable food is more used than animal. Bread was the principal food. Grain of various kinds, beans, lentils, onions, grapes, together with olive oil, honey, and the milk of goats and cows were the ordinary fare. The wandering Arabs live much upon a coarse black bread. A very common dish in Syria is rice, with shreds of meat, vegetables, olive oil, etc., intermixed. A similar dish, made with beans, lentils, and various kinds of pulse, was in frequent use at an earlier age, Ge 25:29-34 2Ki 4:38-1.
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (neshek) refers to interest or usury, literally meaning something that is 'bitten off.' It is derived from the root word for 'bite' and is primarily used in the context of financial transactions involving debt.
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ n.[m.] interest, usury (lit. something bitten off)
base
H5392 נֶ֫שֶׁךְ interest, usury (lit. something bitten off)
5392 neshek neh'-shek
from 5391; interest on a debt:--usury.
see HEBREW for 05391
נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (ne.shekh) — interest.
interest, usury
HNcmsc — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
כֹּל (kol) means 'all' or 'the whole.' It can refer to totality, including every person or thing, and is often used with a following genitive to specify what is included. The term can also denote a broader sense of everything in existence or all circumstances of life. The lexicons do not show significant disagreement on its meanings.
כֹּל once כּוֹל n.m. the whole, all
with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
Absolutely:
without the art., all things, all
with the art. הַכֹּל
where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
base
H3605 כֹּל once כּוֹל the whole, all . with foll. gen. (as usually) the whole of, to be rendered, however, often in our idiom, to avoid stiffness, any or every
. Absolutely: . without the art., all things, all
. with the art. הַכֹּל . where the sense is limited by the context to things (or persons) just mentioned
. in a wider sense, all, whether of all mankind or of all living things, the universe, or of all the circumstances of life (chiefly late)
3605 kol kole
or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole;
hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a
plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any
(manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as
many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole,
whoso(-ever).
see HEBREW for 03634
כֹּל (kol) — all.
1) all, the whole
1a) all, the whole of
1b) any, each, every, anything
1c) totality, everything
Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Prep | N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word אֲשֶׁר (*asher*) is a relative pronoun that can mean 'who,' 'which,' or 'that.' It serves various grammatical functions, including as an adverb or conjunction, indicating relationships between clauses, places, or conditions. Variants like בַאֲשֶׁר (*ba-asher*), מֵאֲשֶׁר (*me-asher*), and כַּאֲשֶׁר (*ka-asher*) expand its usage to specific contexts such as location, causation, and time.
אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.
base
בַאֲשֶׁר
in (that) which
adv. in (the place) where
conj. in that, inasmuch as
on account of whom?
base
מֵאֲשֶׁר
from (or than) that which
adv. from (the place) where
conj. from (the fact) that …, since
base
כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when
according to that which, according as, as
with a causal force, in so far as, since
with a temporal force, when
base
H834a אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause. H834b בַאֲשֶׁר . in (that) which
. adv. in (the place) where
. conj. in that, inasmuch as
. on account of whom?
H834c מֵאֲשֶׁר . from (or than) that which
. adv. from (the place) where
. conj. from (the fact) that …, since
H834d כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when . according to that which, according as, as
. with a causal force, in so far as, since
. with a temporal force, when
834 'aher ash-er'
a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction)
when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X
alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, +
from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which,
wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where
(+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, +
whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is
indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun
expletively, used to show the connection.
אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) — which.
A: 1) (relative part.)
1a) which, who
1b) that which
2) (conj)
2a) that (in obj clause)
2b) when
2c) since
2d) as
2e) conditional if
B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
D: Kaph+
1) (conj.), according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since
1c) with a temporal force: when
בַאֲשֶׁר (ba.a.sher) — in which.
1) in (that) which
2) (adv)
2a) where
3) (conj)
3a) in that, inasmuch as
3b) on account of
מֵאֲשֶׁר (me.a.sher) — whence.
1) from (or than) that which
2) from (the place) where
3) from (the fact) that, since
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) — as which.
conj
1) according as, as, when
1a) according to that which, according as, as
HTr — ParticleHTr
נָשַׁךְ (nashak) primarily means 'to bite,' as in the action of striking with a sting, often associated with serpents. It also has a figurative sense related to financial transactions, specifically to 'pay interest' or 'lend upon usury.' The entries indicate that it can be used in different grammatical forms, such as Qal and Piel for biting, and Qal and Hiphil for lending with interest.
נָשַׁךְ vb. bite
Qal bite
Pi. and they shall bite you fatally
base
[נָשַׁךְ] vb. denom pay, give interest
Qal interest of anything off which one giveth interest
Hiph. make one give interest
base
H5391a נָשַׁךְ bite H5391b נָשַׁךְ vb. denom pay, give interest
5391 nashak naw-shak'
a primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent);
figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan:--bite, lend
upon usury.
נָשַׁךְ (na.shakh) — to bite.
1) to bite
1a) (Qal) to bite
1b) (Piel) to bite
נָשַׁךְ (na.shakh) — to pay interest.
1) to pay, give interest, lend for interest or usury
1a) (Qal) to give interest
1b) (Hiphil) to make to give interest
HVqi3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
in'-ter-est (neshekh, mashsha'; tokos): The Hebrew word neshekh is from a root which means "to bite"; thus interest is "something bitten off." The other word, mashsa', means "lending on interest." The Greek term is from the root tikto, "to produce" or "beget," hence, interest is something begotten or produced by money. The Hebrew words are usually translated "usury," but this meant the same as interest, all interest being reckoned as usury.
Long before Abraham's time money had been loaned at a fixed rate of interest in Babylonia and almost certainly in Egypt. The Code of Hammurabi gives regulations regarding the lending and borrowing of money, the usual interest being 20 percent. Sometimes it was only 11 2/3 and 13 1/3, as shown by contract tablets. In one case, if the loan was not paid in two months, 18 per cent interest would be charged. Corn (grain), dates, onions, etc., were loaned…