Deuteronomy 15:7-8 Explained

"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth." — Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (KJV)

A law about lending money, written for a society that cancelled debts every seventh year and knew what that tempted people to do.

Read it in context: The Book of Deuteronomy. Also gathered under verses about generosity.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 in context

What does Deuteronomy 15:7-8 mean?

The heart and the hand are named together, and the order matters — hardening precedes shutting. 'Open thine hand wide' is deliberately unmeasured against 'sufficient for his need', which is precisely measured. The generosity is open-ended in posture and specific in amount: enough for what is actually lacking, not a gesture and not a rescue. And it is framed as lending, which preserves the other person's standing.

What is the context of Deuteronomy 15:7-8?

The chapter opens by commanding the release of all debts every seven years. Verses 7 and 8 address the obvious consequence: as year six approaches, lending to the poor becomes a bad investment. Verse 9 names that calculation outright and calls it wickedness.

How do I pray Deuteronomy 15:7-8?

Pray it before deciding whether someone deserves help, since that is the calculation the passage anticipates and forbids. Ask what 'sufficient for his need' would actually be — the number is usually smaller and more specific than the vague sum that felt impossible.

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