Deuteronomy 15:2

KJV1611 – Modern English

And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor who lends anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it from his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD'S release.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְזֶה֮ דְּבַ֣ר הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ שָׁמ֗וֹט כָּל־בַּ֙עַל֙ מַשֵּׁ֣ה יָד֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַשֶּׁ֖ה בְּרֵעֵ֑הוּ לֹֽא־יִגֹּ֤שׂ אֶת־רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ וְאֶת־אָחִ֔יו כִּֽי־קָרָ֥א שְׁמִטָּ֖ה לַֽיהוָֽה׃

Transliteration

And this dəḇar the šəmiṭṭāh: šāmôṭ every baʿal maššēh yāḏ his which he nāšāh to his rēaʿ; not shall he nāgaś ʾēṯ-his rēaʿ and ʾēṯ-his ʾāḥ, for has been qārāʾ šəmiṭṭāh to YHWH.

Grammar Details

• *dəḇar*: construct state, masculine singular - word/matter of
• *šəmiṭṭāh*: definite noun, feminine singular - the release
• *šāmôṭ*: infinitive absolute - releasing
• *baʿal*: construct state, masculine singular - owner/master of
• *maššēh*: construct state, masculine singular - loan of
• *yāḏ*: noun with possessive suffix, feminine singular - his hand
• *nāšāh*: hiphil imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - lends
• *rēaʿ*: noun with possessive suffix, masculine singular - his neighbor/fellow
• *nāgaś*: qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - press/exact
• *ʾāḥ*: noun with possessive suffix, masculine singular - his brother
• *qārāʾ*: qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - called/proclaimed
• *YHWH*: proper noun - divine name

Word Meanings

• *dəḇar*: word/matter/thing
• *šāmôṭ*: releasing/dropping/remitting
• *baʿal*: owner/master/creditor
• *maššēh*: loan/debt
• *yāḏ*: hand/power/control
• *nāšāh*: lend/make a loan
• *nāgaś*: press/exact/drive/oppress
• *qārāʾ*: called/proclaimed/announced

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  This is the manner of the release: Every creditor shall release what they have lent to their neighbor. They shall not demand payment from their neighbor or their relative, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lenth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And this is the manner{H1697} of the release:{H8059} every creditor{H4874} shall release{H8058} that which he hath lent{H5383} unto his neighbor;{H7453} he shall not exact{H5065} it of his neighbor{H7453} and his brother;{H251} because Jehovah's{H3068} release{H8059} hath been proclaimed.{H7121}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And this is the manner{H1697} of the release{H8059}: Every creditor{H1167}{H4874}{H3027} that lendeth{H5383}{(H8686)} ought unto his neighbour{H7453} shall release{H8058}{(H8800)} it; he shall not exact{H5065}{(H8799)} it of his neighbour{H7453}, or of his brother{H251}; because it is called{H7121}{(H8804)} the LORD'S{H3068} release{H8059}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And this is the maner off the fre yere, whosoever lendeth ought with his hande vnto his neyghboure, maye not axe agayne that which he hath lent, of his neyghboure or of his brother: because it is called the LORdes fre yere,

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Who so euer ledeth oughte with his hande vnto his neghboure, shal not requyre it of his neghboure or his brother: for it is called the Fre yeare vnto the LORDE.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And this is the maner of the freedome: euery creditour shall quite ye lone of his hand which he hath lent to his neighbour: he shall not aske it againe of his neighbour, nor of his brother: for the yeere of the Lords freedome is proclaimed.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And this is the maner of the freedome: Who so euer lendeth ought with his hande vnto his neighbour, may not aske agayne (that which he hath lent) of his neighbour or of his brother, because it is called the Lordes free yere:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And this [is] the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth [ought] unto his neighbour shall release [it]; he shall not exact [it] of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  This is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Yahweh's release has been proclaimed.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and this `is' the matter of the release: Every owner of a loan `is' to release his hand which he doth lift up against his neighbour, he doth not exact of his neighbour and of his brother, but hath proclaimed a release to Jehovah;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Jehovah's release hath been proclaimed.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Jehovah's release hath been proclaimed.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  This is how it is to be done: every creditor is to give up his right to whatever he has let his neighbour have; he is not to make his neighbour, his countryman, give it back; because a general forgiveness has been ordered by the Lord.

• World English Bible (2000)

  This is the way of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Yahweh's release has been proclaimed.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  This is the nature of the cancellation: Every creditor must remit what he has loaned to another person; he must not force payment from his fellow Israelite, for it is to be recognized as“the LORD’s cancellation of debts.”

Referenced Verses

• Neh 5:7-9 : 7 Then I consulted with myself and rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, You are charging interest, each one from his brother. And I called a great assembly against them. 8 And I said to them, According to our ability, we have redeemed our fellow Jews who were sold to the nations; and will you even sell your brethren, or should they be sold to us? Then they were silent and found nothing to answer. 9 Also I said, What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? 10 I likewise, and my brethren and my servants, could demand money and grain from them. I pray you, let us stop this interest. 11 Restore to them, I pray you, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil, that you are charging them.
• Isa 58:3 : 3 Why have we fasted, they say, and you do not see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no notice? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure and exact all your labors.
• Amos 8:4-6 : 4 Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? and the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, making the ephah small and the shekel large, and falsifying the balances with deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals; yes, and sell the refuse of the wheat?
• Matt 6:12 : 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
• Matt 6:14-15 : 14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
• Matt 18:25-35 : 25 But as he was not able to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe. 29 And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and begged him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very sorry, and came and told their lord all that had been done. 32 Then his lord, after he had called him, said to him, O wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? 34 And his lord was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you do not forgive from your hearts every one his brother their trespasses.
• Luke 6:34-38 : 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks do you have? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be children of the Highest: for he is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured back to you.
• Luke 7:42 : 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
• Jas 2:13 : 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.