If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor. This law, by the terms of it, was confined to Israelites exclusively (see the note at Deuteronomy 23:20). Although the special blessing of God guaranteed riches and honour to the Israelites, on condition of their faithful adherence to the national covenant, so that few comparatively would be indigent among them, yet, even in the best and purest times of their history, there were some poor in the land for the exercise of their faith and charity (Deuteronomy 15:4; Deuteronomy 15:7; Deuteronomy 15:11). х `aaniy (H6040), distressed from any cause; here, as the context implies, from poverty; Septuagint, too adelfoo too penichroo-poor, needy brother.]
Thou shalt not be to him as an usurer - rather, as a creditor (cf. 2 Kings 4:1; Psalms 109:11; Isaiah 24:2; Isaiah 50:1) [and accordingly the Septuagint renders the words, "thou shalt not be" - auton katepeigoon-urging, harassing, oppressing him].
Neither shalt thou lay upon him usury, х lo' (H3808) tªsiymuwn (H7760) `aalaayw (H5921) neshek (H5392)] - thou shalt not impose interest upon him, thou shalt not exact it from him (see further the notes at Leviticus 25:35-36). [Septuagint, tokon-not usury (which has a different meaning attached to it since our present version was made), but interest (cf. Matthew 25:27). The verb laawaah (H3867), lend (used in the first clause of the verse), is distinguished from naashaah (H5382) in the concluding part, in that the latter includes the idea of lending on interest, which the former does not (Robinson's 'Gesenius').]
The spirit of this law, which is illustrated by our Lord (Luke 6:34-35), tends obviously to prevent the grinding oppression of the poor; and the reason of the enactment was to prohibit any from whom they might borrow, taking advantage of their necessities. All Israelites were to be regarded and treated as brethren, the Lord's people; and hence, this protective enactment did not extend in its application to foreigners, among whom the taking of interest on money-loans was a common practice.
The prohibition was attended with no inconvenience among the Israelites, who were in very special circumstances-not a trading nation, but a community of agriculturists, whose lands were inalienable, though the produce of those lands might be sold; while the advantages resulting from it in fostering a spirit of brotherly kindness and charity evinced the divine wisdom and goodness of the Lawgiver. This, it must be added, was the first ordinance upon the subject, and the prohibition related only to the taking of interest from the poor Israelites; a supplementary statute, originating from the altered condition of the people, extended the interdict to the whole nation (see the note at Deuteronomy 23:19).