Leviticus 25:36 Meaning: When a Brother Needs Help, No Interest

The Hebrew word for interest here is neshekh (נֶשֶׁךְ). It literally means a bite, like something that nibbles away at the principal over time. The word for profit is tarbit (תַּרְבִּית), meaning an increase or increment, often used for extra paid back on food or goods. Together they cover all forms of gain taken from a loan.

The verb for fear is yare (יָרֵא), to stand in awe of God, to hold his character as the deepest reality. That fear is the only thing strong enough to stop us from turning a neighbor’s need into our gain.

And the goal: “that your brother may live with you.” The verb chayah (חָיָה) means to stay alive, to thrive, to survive the crisis and remain part of the community. The whole command is aimed at keeping someone afloat, not making money off their trouble.

Christians have understood this verse in different ways. Some traditions, like the Reformed, read it as a lasting command for believers: when a brother in genuine need borrows, you do not charge interest, because the relationship is more important than profit. Others, following Wesley’s notes, see a distinction: this applies to loans for basic needs (food, rent), but not to commercial loans for business investment, where sharing profit is appropriate. The Anglican Cambridge Bible notes that the terms covered both money and foodstuffs, reflecting an economy where loans were survival tools. Across traditions, there is broad agreement that the heart of the command is compassion, not a blanket rule for all lending.

Some readers take this verse to forbid all interest on any loan, including modern mortgages or business credit. In fact, the context is explicitly about a brother who has become poor (verse 35). The prohibition applies to loans that meet a neighbor’s basic need, not to commercial lending between equals. Wesley’s notes make this clear: where money is borrowed for trade or improvement, interest is not necessarily forbidden.

Maybe this week you have a friend or family member who is struggling financially. You might be able to lend them money for groceries, a car repair, or rent. This verse invites you to give that help without expecting anything extra back. No interest. No “you owe me one.” No small print. The goal is simply that they get back on their feet, that they live, not just survive. If charging interest would make their situation harder, the command is to let it go. And if you cannot lend without resentment, the verse pushes us to check our own hearts and trust God to provide for us both.