When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

DEUTERONOMY 24:10KJV
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Deuteronomy 24:10 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 24:10 mean?

Deuteronomy 24:10 instructs that when you lend something to your fellow Israelite, you must not enter their house to take a pledge or security for the loan yourself. Instead, you are to respect their space and wait outside, allowing them to bring the pledge out to you.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites, giving them laws about lending and borrowing. The situation described is when one person (the lender) gives a loan to another (called "brother" here, meaning a fellow Israelite), and the lender wants some kind of guarantee or pledge. The law emphasizes respect for the borrower's dignity and privacy, even in financial matters.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 24:10

  • "Lend" (נָשָׁה, nashah, H5383) refers to giving something temporarily with the expectation of return. This word highlights that the relationship is not just financial but also involves trust and community ties.
  • "Brother" (רֵעַ, re'a, H7453) is often used for a fellow Israelite, not just a biological sibling. This stresses the idea of mutual respect and equality among members of the community.
  • "Pledge" (עֲבוֹט, avot, H5667) means an item given as security for a loan. The verse’s instruction not to enter the borrower's house to take this pledge shows a concern for personal boundaries and fairness.

Why Deuteronomy 24:10 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that a lender has unlimited rights over a borrower; it sets a boundary to protect the borrower's dignity.
  • The instruction fits into a larger section of Deuteronomy that seeks to create a just and compassionate society, especially in economic dealings.
  • By focusing on how to treat a "brother," the verse highlights that financial transactions should not override basic respect and care for others in the community.

Where else these words appear

“thing” Hebrew H4859 · used in 2 verses

  • Proverbs 22:26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

“fetch” Hebrew H5670 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 15:6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.
  • Deuteronomy 15:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
  • Joel 2:7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

“pledge” Hebrew H5667 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 24:11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
  • Deuteronomy 24:12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:
  • Deuteronomy 24:13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

“lend” Hebrew H5383 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 22:25 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.
  • 2 Kings 4:1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
  • Psalms 109:11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.