Deuteronomy 15:3
New International Version
You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you.

New Living Translation
This release from debt, however, applies only to your fellow Israelites—not to the foreigners living among you.

English Standard Version
Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.

Berean Standard Bible
You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

King James Bible
Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;

New King James Version
Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother,

New American Standard Bible
From a foreigner you may require it, but your hand shall forgive whatever of yours is with your brother.

NASB 1995
“From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.

NASB 1977
“From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.

Legacy Standard Bible
From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.

Amplified Bible
You may require repayment from a foreigner, but whatever of yours is with your brother [Israelite] your hand shall release.

Christian Standard Bible
You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.”

American Standard Version
Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it: but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release.

Contemporary English Version
This law applies only to loans you have made to other Israelites. Foreigners will still have to pay back what you have loaned them.

English Revised Version
Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it: but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thine hand shall release.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You may demand that a foreigner pay, but don't collect payment on the debt another Israelite still owes you.

Good News Translation
You may collect what a foreigner owes you, but you must not collect what any of your own people owe you.

International Standard Version
You may exact payment from a foreigner, but cancel whatever your brother owes you.

Majority Standard Bible
You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

NET Bible
You may exact payment from a foreigner, but whatever your fellow Israelite owes you, you must remit.

New Heart English Bible
Of a foreigner you may exact it: but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.

Webster's Bible Translation
Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thy hand shall release:

World English Bible
Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
of the stranger you may exact, but that which is yours with your brother your hand releases,

Young's Literal Translation
of the stranger thou mayest exact, and that which is thine with thy brother doth thy hand release;

Smith's Literal Translation
Foreigners thou shalt exact of, and what shall be to thee with thy brother thine hand shall remit:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Of the foreigner or stranger thou mayst exact it: of thy countryman and neighbour thou shalt not have power to demand it again.

Catholic Public Domain Version
From the sojourner and the new arrival, you may require its return. From your fellow countryman and neighbor, you will not have the power to request its return.

New American Bible
You may press a foreigner, but you shall remit the claim on what your kin owes to you.

New Revised Standard Version
Of a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Of a foreigner you may exact it again; but that which you have with your brother (kindred) you shall release,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you may seek it from a foreigner, and anything that you have with your brother, forgive;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it; but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Of a stranger thou shalt ask again whatsoever he has of thine, but to thy brother thou shalt remit his debt to thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Seventh Year
2This is the manner of remission: Every creditor shall cancel what he has loaned to his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the LORD’s time of release has been proclaimed. 3 You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you. 4There will be no poor among you, however, because the LORD will surely bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance,…

Cross References
Leviticus 25:44-46
Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them. / You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property. / You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

Exodus 23:10-11
For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce, / but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.

Nehemiah 5:7-12
and after serious thought I rebuked the nobles and officials, saying, “You are exacting usury from your own brothers!” So I called a large assembly against them / and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say. / So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? ...

Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! / Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ...

Luke 6:34-35
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. / But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Acts 4:32-35
The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. / With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all. / There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, ...

Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

Romans 13:8
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1 Corinthians 16:1-3
Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia: / On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed. / Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:13-15
It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. / At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality. / As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. / Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

James 2:15-16
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?


Treasury of Scripture

Of a foreigner you may exact it again: but that which is your with your brother your hand shall release;

Deuteronomy 23:20
Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Matthew 17:25,26
He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? …

John 8:35
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

Jump to Previous
Cancel Debt Demand Exact Hand Mayest Nation Owes Payment Release Require Whatever Whatsoever
Jump to Next
Cancel Debt Demand Exact Hand Mayest Nation Owes Payment Release Require Whatever Whatsoever
Deuteronomy 15
1. The seventh year a year of release for the poor
7. one must be generous in lending or giving
12. A Hebrew servant, except by choice, must be freed in the seventh year
19. All firstborn males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord.














You may collect something from a foreigner
This phrase indicates a distinction between Israelites and foreigners in the context of debt and economic relationships. The Hebrew word for "foreigner" is "nokri," which refers to someone who is not part of the Israelite community. Historically, this reflects the socio-economic structure of ancient Israel, where community bonds were strong, and economic practices were designed to maintain social stability and cohesion within the community. The allowance to collect debts from foreigners suggests a pragmatic approach to international trade and relations, recognizing the different obligations and expectations that existed outside the covenant community.

but you must forgive
The Hebrew root for "forgive" here is "shamat," which means to release or let drop. This concept is central to the Sabbatical Year, a time of release and renewal. It reflects God's desire for His people to live in freedom and grace, mirroring His own forgiveness towards them. The act of forgiving debts is not merely a financial transaction but a spiritual discipline that fosters trust, compassion, and unity among the Israelites. It serves as a reminder of God's provision and the importance of mercy in human relationships.

whatever your brother owes you
The term "brother" in this context is "ach" in Hebrew, which extends beyond biological relationships to include fellow members of the Israelite community. This familial language underscores the covenantal bond among the Israelites, emphasizing that they are to treat each other with the same care and concern as family members. The obligation to forgive debts within this community is a reflection of the covenantal relationship they share with God, who has redeemed them and called them to live as His people. This practice of debt forgiveness is a tangible expression of the love and solidarity that should characterize the people of God, setting them apart from other nations and demonstrating the transformative power of God's law.

Verse 3. - A foreigner; a stranger of another nation, having no internal social relation to Israel (נָכְרִי), as distinguished from the stranger who lived among them and had claims on their benevolence (גֵּר). Of such they might exact a debt, without regard to the year of release. "This rule breathes no hatred of foreigners, but simply allows the Israelites the right of every creditor to demand his debts and enforce the demand upon foreigners, even in the sabbatical year. There was no severity in this, because foreigners could get their ordinary income in the seventh year as well as in any other" (Keil).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You may collect
תִּגֹּ֑שׂ (tig·gōś)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5065: To drive, to tax, harass, tyrannize

something from a foreigner,
הַנָּכְרִ֖י (han·nā·ḵə·rî)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5237: Foreign, alien

but you
יָדֶֽךָ׃ (yā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

must forgive
תַּשְׁמֵ֥ט (taš·mêṭ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8058: To fling down, to jostle, to let alone, desist, remit

whatever
וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר (wa·’ă·šer)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

your brother
אָחִ֖יךָ (’ā·ḥî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

owes you.
יִהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be


Links
Deuteronomy 15:3 NIV
Deuteronomy 15:3 NLT
Deuteronomy 15:3 ESV
Deuteronomy 15:3 NASB
Deuteronomy 15:3 KJV

Deuteronomy 15:3 BibleApps.com
Deuteronomy 15:3 Biblia Paralela
Deuteronomy 15:3 Chinese Bible
Deuteronomy 15:3 French Bible
Deuteronomy 15:3 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Deuteronomy 15:3 Of a foreigner you may exact it: (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 15:2
Top of Page
Top of Page