Loan

Loan in the Mosaic law was governed by principles of fraternal generosity rather than commercial profit. Israelites were required to lend freely to their poor neighbors without charging interest (neshek, literally a bite): Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury (Deut. 23:19). Exodus 22:25 extends this: 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. Interest could be charged to foreigners but not to fellow Israelites, establishing a two-tier system that emphasized covenant solidarity over market principles.

Loans in ancient Israel were also subject to the sabbatical year: every seventh year all debts between Israelites were to be released, preventing the permanent entrenchment of poverty through debt (Deut. 15:1–11). Moses warns against the temptation to refuse loans as the sabbatical year approached (Deut. 15:9). Jesus directly alludes to this tradition in the Sermon on the Mount, commanding his followers to lend without expecting return (Luke 6:35) and to give to all who ask (Matt. 5:42)—extending the Mosaic principle of fraternal generosity beyond ethnic and religious boundaries.