Deuteronomy 15:7 - If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Deuteronomy 15:7" mean?
Deuteronomy 15:7 is a direct commandment concerning how to treat poor and needy people within your community. Let's break it down:
"If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you...": This establishes the context - a fellow Israelite (a "brother") is in a state of poverty and living in your vicinity. The phrase "with you" implies a close physical proximity and, likely, a shared community.
"...within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you...": This specifies the location: within the borders of the land promised and given by God. This reinforces the idea that this responsibility is tied to the covenant relationship with God and the blessings received from Him. "Gates" refers to the entrances to cities, a place where people would congregate and where the poor might be found begging or seeking assistance.
"...you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;": This is the key command.
"Harden your heart": This means to become callous, uncaring, or indifferent to the plight of the poor person. It suggests a closing off of empathy and compassion.
"Shut your hand": This means to refuse to help the poor person financially or materially. It's a direct refusal to share your resources.
Therefore, the verse means:
When you encounter a fellow Israelite living in poverty within your community in the land God has given you, you must not become hard-hearted or refuse to help them with your resources. You have a moral and religious obligation to be compassionate and generous towards the poor among you.
Key takeaways from this verse:
Responsibility to Fellow Believers: The focus is on helping fellow Israelites. This highlights the communal responsibility within the covenant relationship with God.
Compassion and Empathy: The warning against "hardening your heart" emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion towards the poor.
Generosity: The command not to "shut your hand" stresses the need for tangible help and generosity in alleviating poverty.
Connection to Divine Blessing: The reminder that the land is given by God links obedience to this command with the blessings of the covenant. Generosity is framed as a way of honoring God and participating in His provision for His people.
In essence, this verse is a call to social justice and a reminder that material blessings come with a responsibility to care for the less fortunate. It sets a standard for a community where compassion and generosity are valued and where the needs of the poor are met.
Deuteronomy 15:7 - If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
What does "Deuteronomy 15:7" mean?
Deuteronomy 15:7 is a direct commandment concerning how to treat poor and needy people within your community. Let's break it down:
"If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you...": This establishes the context - a fellow Israelite (a "brother") is in a state of poverty and living in your vicinity. The phrase "with you" implies a close physical proximity and, likely, a shared community.
"...within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you...": This specifies the location: within the borders of the land promised and given by God. This reinforces the idea that this responsibility is tied to the covenant relationship with God and the blessings received from Him. "Gates" refers to the entrances to cities, a place where people would congregate and where the poor might be found begging or seeking assistance.
"...you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;": This is the key command.
"Harden your heart": This means to become callous, uncaring, or indifferent to the plight of the poor person. It suggests a closing off of empathy and compassion.
"Shut your hand": This means to refuse to help the poor person financially or materially. It's a direct refusal to share your resources.
Therefore, the verse means:
When you encounter a fellow Israelite living in poverty within your community in the land God has given you, you must not become hard-hearted or refuse to help them with your resources. You have a moral and religious obligation to be compassionate and generous towards the poor among you.
Key takeaways from this verse:
Responsibility to Fellow Believers: The focus is on helping fellow Israelites. This highlights the communal responsibility within the covenant relationship with God.
Compassion and Empathy: The warning against "hardening your heart" emphasizes the importance of empathy and compassion towards the poor.
Generosity: The command not to "shut your hand" stresses the need for tangible help and generosity in alleviating poverty.
Connection to Divine Blessing: The reminder that the land is given by God links obedience to this command with the blessings of the covenant. Generosity is framed as a way of honoring God and participating in His provision for His people.
In essence, this verse is a call to social justice and a reminder that material blessings come with a responsibility to care for the less fortunate. It sets a standard for a community where compassion and generosity are valued and where the needs of the poor are met.