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At the end of seven years you shall make a release of debts.
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And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it from his neighbor or his brother, because a release has been proclaimed for the LORD.
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From a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever you have lent to your brother you shall release.
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However, there will be no poor among you, for the LORD will surely bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance,
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if only you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to do all this commandment that I command you today.
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For the LORD your God will bless you, as He has promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
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If there is among you a poor man, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,
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but you shall open your hand wide to him and lend him generously enough for his need, whatever he requires.
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Take care lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is near, and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cries to the LORD against you, and it becomes sin for you.
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You shall surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
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For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to the afflicted and to the poor in your land.”
12
“If your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, sells himself to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you.
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And when you let him go free from you, you shall not send him away empty-handed,
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you shall furnish him generously from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress; as the LORD your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.
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Remember that you yourself were once a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I am giving you this command today.
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But if he says to you, ‘I do not want to go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since it has gone well with him,
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then you shall take an awl and pierce his ear against the door, and he shall be your slave forever. You shall do the same to your female slave.
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Do not be troubled when you set him free, because for six years he has served you, and the wages of a hired worker twice over have been worth it to you. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.”
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“Every firstborn male that is born among your herd and your flock you shall consecrate to the LORD your God; you shall not work with your firstborn ox, and you shall not shear the firstborn of your flock.
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Before the LORD your God you shall eat it year by year in the place that the LORD will choose, you and your household.
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But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind, or has any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
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Within your towns you may eat it, both the unclean and the clean person alike, as the gazelle or the deer.
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Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.”
💸🤝🕊️ Summary of Deuteronomy 15 – The Year of Debt Release and a Generous Heart
Deuteronomy 15 speaks about the year of debt release (the seventh year), the freeing of Hebrew slaves, and generosity toward the poor. God established a social economic system that is just, full of compassion, and not oppressive, reflecting His character as a God who lifts up, not oppresses. Obedience to this law is a practical expression of loving one’s neighbor and fearing God.
📌 1. Debt Release in the Seventh Year (verses 1–6)
- Every seven years, the Israelites were to cancel all the debts of their fellow countrymen.
- Foreigners could still be pressed for payment, but not their own brothers.
- If the people obeyed, the Lord promised to bless them abundantly, even making Israel lend to other nations and never borrow.
🎯 Debt release is a symbol of forgiveness and freedom, as well as a compassionate financial system.
📌 2. Open Hand to the Poor (verses 7–11)
- If there is a poor brother among your people:
Do not harden your heart or shut your hand.
Do not delay giving just because the year of release is near.
You must give willingly and not feel burdened.
“For the poor will never cease from the land…” (verse 11)
🎯 A generous heart is an inseparable part of holy living before the Lord.
📌 3. Release of Hebrew Slaves (verses 12–18)
- If an Israelite becomes a slave because of debt, then:
He must be set free in the seventh year.
He must not be sent away empty-handed — he must be given provisions from the blessing of the Lord.
If the slave chooses to remain out of love for his master, then he may be bound voluntarily.
🎯 The release of slaves reflects freedom and respect for human dignity, as well as the awareness that the people themselves were once slaves in Egypt.
📌 4. Consecrated Firstfruits Offering (verses 19–23)
- All firstborn males from the livestock:
Are set apart for the Lord.
They must be offered and eaten in celebration before the Lord.
If there is a defect, it must not be offered, but it may be eaten like ordinary meat.
🎯 The best of what we produce should be offered to the Lord with reverence and thanksgiving.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Lord is God who desires social justice and true forgiveness within the life system of His people.
- Giving to the poor and canceling debts is social worship that pleases the heart of the Lord.
- Slavery is not a permanent system — God is a liberator, not an oppressor.
- Giving willingly and with joy is a sign that we know and trust in God’s provision.
- A true offering to the Lord must be the best and without blemish.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
- Jesus Himself referred to the spirit of this chapter when He said:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me… to proclaim release to the captives…” (Luke 4:18)
- Paul exhorts the church to give:
“Each person should give… not with sorrow or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- The letter to Philemon also speaks of the release and acceptance of a slave (Onesimus) as a brother, echoing the spirit of Deuteronomy 15.
🎯 In Christ, we have all been set free — therefore we are called to set others free in love, forgiveness, and generosity.
“Do not let your heart be evil when you must give… for because of this the LORD your God will bless you.” – Deuteronomy 15:10
