Deuteronomy 15:4
Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:
Original Language Analysis
אֶ֕פֶס
Save
H657
אֶ֕פֶס
Save
Strong's:
H657
Word #:
1 of 18
cessation, i.e., an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or f
כִּ֛י
H3588
כִּ֛י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
2 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִֽהְיֶה
H1961
יִֽהְיֶה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
4 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
7 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙
bless
H1288
יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙
bless
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
8 of 18
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙
bless
H1288
יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙
bless
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
9 of 18
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
יְהוָ֣ה
among you for the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
among you for the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
10 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בָּאָ֕רֶץ
thee in the land
H776
בָּאָ֕רֶץ
thee in the land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
11 of 18
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֲשֶׁר֙
H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 18
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֣ה
among you for the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
among you for the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
14 of 18
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
נֹֽתֵן
giveth
H5414
נֹֽתֵן
giveth
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
15 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Cross References
Proverbs 28:27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.Deuteronomy 28:11And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.Deuteronomy 14:29And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
Historical Context
Israel never fully implemented God's economic legislation. Failure to observe sabbatical years, exploitation of the poor, and neglect of social justice brought prophetic condemnation and contributed to national judgment.
The ideal of no poor among you remained unrealized in Israel's history, demonstrating that human sinfulness prevents even God's perfect law from producing perfect society without heart transformation.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's ideal of eliminating poverty reveal about His concern for economic justice?
- How do sabbatical laws and similar legislation work to prevent systemic poverty?
- Why does human disobedience prevent even perfect law from producing perfect society?
- What is the relationship between covenant obedience and societal flourishing?
- How should the tension between ideal (no poor) and reality (poor always present) shape Christian social ethics?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit it. This verse presents God's ideal - faithful covenant obedience should result in elimination of poverty. If Israel kept God's commands, His blessing would ensure no permanent poor class existed.
The phrase there shall be no poor among you is both promise and goal. Obedience to sabbatical laws, gleaning regulations, and other social legislation would prevent systemic poverty from developing. Periodic debt release and land redistribution (Jubilee) maintained economic mobility.
However, verse 11 later acknowledges reality - the poor would always exist due to human sin and disobedience. The tension between ideal (no poor) and reality (poor always present) demonstrates that while God's law provides framework for flourishing, human failure to observe it perpetuates poverty.
Reformed theology recognizes that comprehensive societal blessing requires comprehensive societal obedience. When nations follow God's righteous principles, flourishing results; when they reject His ways, poverty and injustice multiply.