Deuteronomy 15:9

Authorized King James Version

PDF

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Original Language Analysis

הִשָּׁ֣מֶר Beware H8104
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר Beware
Strong's: H8104
Word #: 1 of 28
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
לְךָ֡ H0
לְךָ֡
Strong's: H0
Word #: 2 of 28
פֶּן H6435
פֶּן
Strong's: H6435
Word #: 3 of 28
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה H1961
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 4 of 28
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דָבָר֩ that there be not a thought H1697
דָבָר֩ that there be not a thought
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 5 of 28
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
עִם H5973
עִם
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 6 of 28
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
לְבָֽבְךָ֙ heart H3824
לְבָֽבְךָ֙ heart
Strong's: H3824
Word #: 7 of 28
the heart (as the most interior organ)
בְלִיַּ֜עַל in thy wicked H1100
בְלִיַּ֜עַל in thy wicked
Strong's: H1100
Word #: 8 of 28
without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness
לֵאמֹ֗ר saying H559
לֵאמֹ֗ר saying
Strong's: H559
Word #: 9 of 28
to say (used with great latitude)
קָֽרְבָ֣ה is at hand H7126
קָֽרְבָ֣ה is at hand
Strong's: H7126
Word #: 10 of 28
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
שְׁנַ֣ת the year H8141
שְׁנַ֣ת the year
Strong's: H8141
Word #: 11 of 28
a year (as a revolution of time)
הַשֶּׁבַע֮ The seventh H7651
הַשֶּׁבַע֮ The seventh
Strong's: H7651
Word #: 12 of 28
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
שְׁנַ֣ת the year H8141
שְׁנַ֣ת the year
Strong's: H8141
Word #: 13 of 28
a year (as a revolution of time)
הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ of release H8059
הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒ of release
Strong's: H8059
Word #: 14 of 28
remission (of debt) or suspension of labor)
וְרָעָ֣ה be evil H7489
וְרָעָ֣ה be evil
Strong's: H7489
Word #: 15 of 28
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)
עֵֽינְךָ֗ and thine eye H5869
עֵֽינְךָ֗ and thine eye
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 16 of 28
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
בְּאָחִ֙יךָ֙ brother H251
בְּאָחִ֙יךָ֙ brother
Strong's: H251
Word #: 17 of 28
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
הָֽאֶבְי֔וֹן against thy poor H34
הָֽאֶבְי֔וֹן against thy poor
Strong's: H34
Word #: 18 of 28
destitute
וְלֹ֥א H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 19 of 28
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִתֵּ֖ן and thou givest H5414
תִתֵּ֖ן and thou givest
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 20 of 28
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
ל֑וֹ H0
ל֑וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 21 of 28
וְקָרָ֤א him nought and he cry H7121
וְקָרָ֤א him nought and he cry
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 22 of 28
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
עָלֶ֙יךָ֙ H5921
עָלֶ֙יךָ֙
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 23 of 28
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 24 of 28
near, with or among; often in general, to
יְהוָ֔ה unto the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֔ה unto the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 25 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְהָיָ֥ה H1961
וְהָיָ֥ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 26 of 28
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְךָ֖ H0
בְךָ֖
Strong's: H0
Word #: 27 of 28
חֵֽטְא׃ against thee and it be sin H2399
חֵֽטְא׃ against thee and it be sin
Strong's: H2399
Word #: 28 of 28
a crime or its penalty

Analysis & Commentary

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. The warning hishamer lekha (beware/take heed) addresses internal motivation, not merely external action. A davar-beliya'al (base/worthless thought) entertained in the levav (heart) constitutes sin even before manifesting in refusal to lend.

The ayin ra'ah (evil eye) is a Hebrew idiom for stinginess and ill will (cf. Proverbs 23:6; 28:22; Matthew 6:23). Calculating when to withhold charity based on the approaching Sabbatical year reveals heart-level greed and covenant-breaking. The phrase qara aleikha el-YHWH (he cry unto the LORD against you) echoes Exodus 22:23-24—God hears the oppressed and judges their oppressors. What begins as internal calculation becomes external sin when acted upon, incurring guilt (hayah bekha khet—'it will be sin unto you').

Historical Context

The Sabbatical year debt release (Deuteronomy 15:1-3) created perverse incentives—lenders might refuse loans near the seventh year, knowing repayment would be cancelled. The Pharisees later instituted the prozbul (legal fiction allowing debt collection despite Sabbatical year) to circumvent this economic disincentive, showing how legalism tries to evade costly obedience. Jesus condemned similar heart-level greed in the Pharisees (Mark 7:20-23; Luke 11:39-41), demonstrating that God judges internal attitudes, not merely external compliance.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

Study Resources