In the biblical context, borrowing is addressed in various passages, reflecting the economic practices and moral teachings of ancient Israel. The act of borrowing, whether it involves money, goods, or services, is often accompanied by instructions on fairness, responsibility, and compassion.

Old Testament Teachings

The Old Testament provides several guidelines regarding borrowing and lending, emphasizing justice and mercy. In Exodus 22:25, the Israelites are instructed, "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest." This command underscores the importance of compassion and fairness, particularly towards the poor and vulnerable.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 further elaborates on this principle: "If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs." Here, the act of lending is portrayed as a moral duty, reflecting God's care for the needy.

The concept of the Sabbatical Year, as described in Deuteronomy 15:1-2, also plays a significant role in the biblical understanding of borrowing: "At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the LORD’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed." This practice was intended to prevent the accumulation of insurmountable debt and to promote economic equality.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Bible also addresses borrowing, often highlighting the potential pitfalls. Proverbs 22:7 warns, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." This proverb reflects the power dynamics inherent in borrowing and serves as a caution against becoming ensnared in debt.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, Jesus' teachings further illuminate the principles surrounding borrowing and lending. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs, "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you" (Matthew 5:42). This teaching emphasizes generosity and the willingness to help others, reflecting the selfless love that characterizes Christian ethics.

The parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-35) also touches on the theme of debt and forgiveness. In this parable, a servant who is forgiven a massive debt by his master refuses to forgive a fellow servant a much smaller debt. The parable underscores the importance of mercy and the expectation that those who have received grace should extend it to others.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

Throughout the Bible, borrowing is not condemned outright but is framed within a moral and ethical context that prioritizes justice, mercy, and community welfare. The biblical narrative encourages responsible borrowing and lending practices, urging believers to act with integrity and compassion. The overarching message is one of stewardship, where resources are to be used wisely and in a manner that honors God and serves others.7592. shaal -- to ask, inquire
... to ask, inquire NASB Word Usage ask (45), asked (41), asking (5), asks (5), beg
(1), begged (1), begs (1), borrow (1), borrowed (1), borrows (1), consult (2 ...
/hebrew/7592.htm - 6k

3867b. lavah -- to borrow
... root Definition to borrow NASB Word Usage borrow (1), borrowed (1), borrower becomes
the lender's (1), borrows (1), lend (4), lender like the borrower (1 ...
/hebrew/3867b.htm - 5k

Whether it is Lawful to Borrow Money under a Condition of Usury?
... not only they that do" these sins, "but they also that consent to them that do them."
Now he that borrows money under a condition of usury consents in the sin ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 17.htm

The Ministry of Women
... expecting to get His breakfast off that. He is tired, and He borrows a
fishing-boat to lie down and sleep in. He is thirsty, and He asks ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the ministry of women.htm

Whether this Doctrine is the Same as Wisdom?
... For no doctrine which borrows its principles is worthy of the name of wisdom;
seeing that the wise man directs, and is not directed (Metaph. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this doctrine is the.htm

Appendix. An Ordination Charge.
... One of our hymns says that the Bible "gives a light to every age; it gives,
but borrows none." Nothing could be more untrue. The ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/appendix an ordination charge.htm

On the Public Shows.
... things of wickedness. Again, when he borrows his illustrations from the
racecourse, he also proposes the prize of the crown. Why, then ...
/.../on the public shows.htm

Preface
... is authorized and commanded to call no man Master , so as to yield an implicit and
unqualified submission to human teachers; while he gladly borrows every help ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/preface.htm

The Doctrine of Apelles Refuted, that Christ's Body was of ...
... But then, how comes it to pass that a faith which holds to a different rule borrows
materials for its own arguments from the faith which it impugns? ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter vi the doctrine of apelles.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... Isaiah, too, borrows, in chap. xiii.6, a sentence from Joel 1:15, the peculiarity
of which proves that the coincidence is not accidental. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

Christianity a Light.
... The sun is the center around which all the planets revolve, and from which they
receive their light. The moon borrows its light from the sun. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter i christianity a light.htm

Introductory Note
... Besides this, one should bring to the study of their works, that sympathy springing
from a burning love to Christ, which borrows its motto, in slightly altered ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/introductory note.htm

Borrows (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Borrows (2 Occurrences). Exodus 22:14 "If a man
borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or ...
/b/borrows.htm - 6k

Neighbor's (31 Occurrences)
... Exodus 22:14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or
dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. (WEB). ...
/n/neighbor's.htm - 16k

Loan (9 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act of lending; a lending; permission to use; as, the loan of a book,
money, services. 3. (n.) That which one lends or borrows, esp. ...
/l/loan.htm - 16k

Injured (28 Occurrences)
... Exodus 22:14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or
dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. ...
/i/injured.htm - 15k

Restitution (21 Occurrences)
... Exodus 22:14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or
dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. ...
/r/restitution.htm - 13k

Borrow (10 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Exodus 22:14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is
injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. ...
/b/borrow.htm - 11k

Borrower (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who borrows. Multi-Version Concordance
Borrower (3 Occurrences). Exodus 22:15 If its owner is ...
/b/borrower.htm - 7k

Bor-sirah (1 Occurrence)
Bor-sirah. Borrows, Bor-sirah. Boscath . Multi-Version Concordance Bor-sirah
(1 Occurrence). ... (See JPS). Borrows, Bor-sirah. Boscath . Reference Bible.
/b/bor-sirah.htm - 6k

Dies (71 Occurrences)
... Exodus 22:14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or
dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. ...
/d/dies.htm - 26k

Owner (56 Occurrences)
... Exodus 22:14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor's, and it is injured, or
dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. ...
/o/owner.htm - 24k

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