Deuteronomy 23:20

French (La Sainte Bible par Louis Segond 1910)

Tu pourras tirer un intérêt de l'étranger, mais tu n'en tireras point de ton frère, afin que l'Eternel, ton Dieu, te bénisse dans tout ce que tu entreprendras au pays dont tu vas entrer en possession.

What Does This Mean?

This verse from Deuteronomy explains that you can charge interest when lending money to foreigners, but not to fellow Israelites. The speaker is Moses, teaching the Israelites about God's laws. The key message is that God wants the Israelites to help their fellow brothers and to be generous in their dealings.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a toy to share. The verse says you can lend it to someone from another school and they can give you a treat in return. But if your friend from your own class asks for it, you should lend it without asking for anything back. This is because God wants us to be extra kind to our own family and friends.

Historical Background

This verse was written by Moses around 1200 BC as part of the Deuteronomy book. It was addressed to the Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land. At that time, the Israelites had a strong sense of community and were establishing rules on how to treat both insiders and outsiders.

Living It Out Today

In today's context, this verse can be applied to how we handle financial dealings with both family members and non-family members. For example, if you lend money to a friend or family member, it might be better not to charge interest, showing generosity and solidarity, while transactions with those outside your immediate circle might follow more conventional financial practices.

Topics

• generosity
• finance
• community
• fairness
• love
• law

Related Verses

• Exodus 22:25
• Psalm 15:5
• Proverbs 19:17
• Luke 6:35
• Ephesians 4:28

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this verse encourage discrimination?

The verse does not encourage discrimination but rather emphasizes the importance of treating fellow Israelites with generosity and fairness, reflecting a strong sense of community and care.

Can this be applied to modern banking?

Yes, it can inspire a balance between fair business practices and acts of kindness, especially when dealing with loans within one's community or family.

What does it mean to lend to a 'stranger'?

In this context, a 'stranger' refers to someone who is not part of the Israelite community. It emphasizes the distinction between insiders and outsiders, with different rules for each group.

How does this relate to God's blessings?

The verse suggests that by following these principles of lending, God will bless all the endeavors of the Israelites as they enter the Promised Land, reflecting God's favor on acts of generosity and fairness.