Leviticus 25:37 — Word Study
WLCאֶ֨ת־ כַּסְפְּךָ֔ לֹֽא־ תִתֵּ֥ן ל֖וֹ בְּנֶ֑שֶׁךְ וּבְמַרְבִּ֖ית לֹא־ תִתֵּ֥ן אָכְלֶֽךָ׃
BSAYou must notlôʼ lendnâthan▸ himʼêth your silverkeçeph [money or, at excessive rates] at interestneshek [or usury] orlôʼ sell himnâthan▸ your foodʼôkel [essential provisions or, at an inflated price] for profitmarbîyth [or increase]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֶ֨ת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| כַּסְפְּךָ֔ | silver your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לֹֽא־ | not | Particle |
| תִתֵּ֥ן | you will give | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| ל֖וֹ | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| בְּנֶ֑שֶׁךְ | for interest | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וּבְמַרְבִּ֖ית | and for profit | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| לֹא־ | not | Particle |
| תִתֵּ֥ן | you will give | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| אָכְלֶֽךָ׃ | food your | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit. |
| KJV | Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. |
| ASV | Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor give him thy victuals for increase. |
| YLT | thy money thou givest not to him in usury, and for increase thou givest not thy food; |
| WEB | You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. |
| BBE | Do not take interest on the money which you let him have or on the food which you give him. |
Where they part company is נֶשֶׁךְ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence structure is straightforward, with a main clause followed by two subordinate actions connected by conjunctions.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Ellicott, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָתַן
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 — Leviticus 25:37
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 About Lending and Interestgenerated
Leviticus 25:37 is part of a broader set of instructions given to the Israelites regarding ethical behavior in their community. These laws emphasize the importance of treating fellow countrymen with fairness and compassion, particularly in financial transactions. God reminds the Israelites of their identity as His people and the importance of not taking advantage of each other, especially during times of need, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
The Key Word — נֶשֶׁךְ, be.Ne.shekhgenerated
The word נֶשֶׁךְ (nešek) specifically refers to interest or usury, derived from a root meaning 'to bite.' This term is used in the context of lending money at excessive rates, which is prohibited in the Bible. It highlights the ethical considerations surrounding financial transactions, particularly concerning the treatment of the poor and vulnerable.
This prohibition against נֶשֶׁךְ reflects God's concern for justice and fairness within the community. By forbidding interest, God aims to foster an environment of mutual support and care among His people, ensuring that no one is exploited in their time of need.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is presented in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses lend and sell to convey the actions prohibited.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the sentence is תִתֵּן, you will give, which governs the actions described. The structure includes two adverbial phrases indicating what not to do: לֹא, not, and a second לֹא, not, emphasizing the prohibition.
The Hebrew word order places the negation before the verbs, highlighting the emphasis on what is forbidden in these financial dealings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, נֶשֶׁךְ is rendered as τόκῳ (tokō), which also means interest. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but may reflect a broader understanding of financial practices in the Greek-speaking world.
The translation choice indicates a consistent concern for fair financial practices, as both terms convey the idea of charging excessive rates on loans.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 25:37 instructs the Israelites not to lend money at interest or sell food for profit. This law emphasizes fairness and compassion in treating fellow countrymen, especially those in need.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Lending at interest refers to charging someone extra money for borrowing, which is prohibited in this context to protect the poor.
Selling food for profit implies taking advantage of someone's need, which goes against the principle of supporting one another in the community.
Yes, other passages, such as Deuteronomy 23:19-20, also address fair lending practices and the prohibition of usury.
These laws reflect God's desire for justice and compassion among His people, ensuring that everyone is treated fairly.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I ensure that I treat others fairly in my financial dealings?
- What are some ways I can support those in need without taking advantage of them?
- Why do you think God places such importance on fair treatment in financial transactions?
- How can these principles apply to my life today?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 25:37 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shalt not give him thy money upon usury,.... Lend him money, expecting and insisting upon a large interest for it; this is to be understood of persons in poor and necessitous circumstances, of
Read John Gill on Leviticus 25 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. If thy brother be waxen poor ... relieve him.
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 25 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(37) Thou shalt not give him.—This is simply an emphatic repetition of the declaration in the foregoing verse, and favours the ancient distinction between the two terms.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 25 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges37. No interest was to be permitted in such a case for money lent, nor, if the loan took the form of the necessaries of life, was more than the amount lent to be exacted in return. The same law appears in Exodus 22:25 [Heb. 24]; Deuteronomy 23:20. In the latter case it is from ‘a stranger’ interest may be demanded.
Read Cambridge on Leviticus 25 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleLend him thy victuals for increase - i. e. supply him with food for thy own profit.
Read Albert Barnes on Leviticus 25 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible37. Victuals — In Deuteronomy 23:19, there is added the prohibition of “usury of anything that is lent upon usury.” Thus in all the means of life the poor are mercifully guarded against the oppression of avarice.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 25 →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
You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.
You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.
You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.
You must not lend him your money at interest and you must not sell him food for profit.
Tyndale line
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor give him thy victuals for increase.
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor give him thy victuals for increase.
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.
Thou shalt not giue him thy money to vsurie, nor lende him thy vitailes for increase.
Strictly literal
Thy money shalt thou not give him upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.
thy money thou givest not to him in usury, and for increase thou givest not thy food;
you do not give your money to him in usury, and you do not give your food for increase.
Thy money shalt thou not give him upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.
You must not give him a loan of money and charge interest, nor sell him your food to earn a profit.
From the Latin
Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor exact of him any increase of fruits.
Simplified
Don't lend them silver with interest or sell them food at an inflated price.
Do not take interest on the money which you let him have or on the food which you give him.
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 and the Septuagint largely agree, with the notable exception of the Samaritan Pentateuch, which uses the word תרבית (interest) instead of נֶשֶׁךְ. This difference highlights variations in the understanding of financial terms within different Jewish communities.
אֶ֨ת־ כַּסְפְּךָ֔ לֹֽא־ תִתֵּ֥ן ל֖וֹ בְּנֶ֑שֶׁךְ וּבְמַרְבִּ֖ית לֹא־ תִתֵּ֥ן אָכְלֶֽךָ׃
9 of the 10 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.
את כספך לא תתן לו בנשׁך ובתרבית לא תתן אכלך
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: תרבית (interest)
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 Leviticus 25:37
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.
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
DirObjM — ParticleHTo
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
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms
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
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms
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
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
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…
מַרְבִּית (marbiyth) refers to a concept of increase or greatness, encompassing a multitude or a large number of people. It can also denote offspring and specifically relates to financial terms like interest or usury. The word is built from the root meaning to increase, indicating its focus on growth and abundance.
מַרְבִּית n.f. increase, great number, greatness
base
H4768 מַרְבִּית
4768 marbiyth mar-beeth'
from 7235; a multitude; also offspring; specifically interest
(on capital):--greatest part, greatness, increase, multitude.
see HEBREW for 07235
מַרְבִּית (mar.bit) — greatness.
1) increase, great number, multitude, greatness
1a) increase
1a1) of family
1a2) increment, interest, usury
1b) great number (of people)
1c) greatness (of wisdom)
Conj | Prep | N-fs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/R/Ncfsa
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
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it 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
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp2ms