The Meaning of Leviticus 25:36 Explained

Leviticus 25:36

KJV: Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

YLT: thou takest no usury from him, or increase; and thou hast been afraid of thy God; and thy brother hath lived with thee;

Darby: Thou shalt take no usury nor increase of him; and thou shalt fear thy God; that thy brother may live beside thee.

ASV: Take thou no interest of him or increase, but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Take  thou no usury  of him, or increase:  but fear  thy God;  that thy brother  may live  with thee. 

What does Leviticus 25:36 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Leviticus 25:35-55 - Freedom In The Year Of Jubilee
If a man, through misfortune, were forced to sell himself into serfdom to meet his debts, he could not be legally retained after the trumpet had sounded; but was free to return to his home and family. His rich neighbor, during the time of his distress, was not to exact usury on any loan that he might make, but must give him food, lodging, and help, without charge. The poor man was to be treated not as a slave, but as a hired servant and fellow-citizen whose engagement was of a temporary character, and who might be redeemed at any time before the jubilee, through friendly interposition of a relative.
Nothing in modern legislation equals the jubilee in the interests of religion, social order, and liberty. Is it to be believed that when we, in our various distresses, go to our Heavenly Father, we shall fare any worse than the poor peasant did at the hands of his rich neighbor? And in Jesus have we not one nigh of kin who will redeem us at all costs? [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 25

1  the Sabbath of the seventh year
8  The jubilee in the fiftieth year
14  Of oppression
18  A blessing of obedience
23  The redemption of land
29  Of houses
35  Compassion to the poor
39  The usage of bondmen
47  The redemption of servants

What do the individual words in Leviticus 25:36 mean?

No take from him usury or interest but fear your God that may live your brother with you
אַל־ תִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתּוֹ֙ נֶ֣שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֔ית וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵֽאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ וְחֵ֥י אָחִ֖יךָ עִמָּֽךְ

אַל־  No 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תִּקַּ֤ח  take 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
מֵֽאִתּוֹ֙  from  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Direct object marker, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נֶ֣שֶׁךְ  usury 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֶשֶׁךְ  
Sense: interest, usury.
וְתַרְבִּ֔ית  or  interest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תַּרְבּוּת  
Sense: increase, brood, progeny, offspring.
וְיָרֵ֖אתָ  but  fear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מֵֽאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ  your  God 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְחֵ֥י  that  may  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
אָחִ֖יךָ  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
עִמָּֽךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.