נֶ֫שֶׁךְ (ne.shekh)
ne.shekh
interest
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun neshekh refers to interest or usury charged on a loan. Its literal meaning is "something bitten off," an image that captures the way compound interest can slowly consume the borrower’s resources over time. This vivid etymology underscores why the biblical text treats such practices with serious concern, viewing them not as neutral financial transactions but as acts of exploitation.
In Scripture, this term appears in key passages like Leviticus 25:36 and Psalm 15:5, where it is linked with taking advantage of the poor. The law prohibited Israelites from charging neshekh to fellow community members, aiming to protect vulnerable neighbors from falling into debt slavery. While Proverbs occasionally mentions interest in warnings against foolish contracts, the primary focus remains on social justice and maintaining communal integrity rather than modern banking regulations.
Translators typically render neshekh as "interest" or "usury," though the latter carries stronger negative connotations in English. The word highlights a specific ethical boundary: lending should be an act of support, not a mechanism for profit at another’s expense. This distinction helps readers understand the ancient economic ethics that prioritized human dignity over financial gain.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word neshekh carries a striking image: something bitten off. It describes interest charged on a loan, but the language suggests a slow consumption of the borrower’s resources. In the ancient context, this was not seen as a neutral business practice. Instead, it was viewed as an act of exploitation that could trap vulnerable neighbors in debt slavery. The law prohibited charging this to fellow Israelites, aiming to protect community integrity and human dignity.
For your faith life, this word reminds us that lending should be an act of support, not a mechanism for profit at another’s expense. It invites you to consider how your financial relationships reflect care for others rather than self-interest. When we lend, we have the opportunity to uphold justice and show mercy, ensuring that our actions do not cause harm but instead help others thrive.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for/ interest2×
- interest1×
- by/ interest1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֶ֣שֶׁךְ1×
- בְּ/נֶשֶׁךְ֮1×
- בְּ/נֶ֣שֶׁךְ1×
- בְּ/נֶ֑שֶׁךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 25:36
Take no interest from him or profit; but fear your God, that your brother may live among you.
This verse establishes the core ethical boundary by linking the prohibition of neshekh directly to the fear of God and the preservation of life for one's brother.
-
Psalms 15:5
he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
Here, avoiding neshekh is listed as a defining characteristic of those who walk blamelessly and will never be shaken, highlighting its importance in personal righteousness.
-
Proverbs 28:8
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
This occurrence warns that wealth gained through excessive interest is ultimately temporary, as it will be gathered by someone who shows pity to the poor.