Leviticus 25 · Verse 35

Leviticus 25:35

And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
Leviticus 25:35, King James Version

Leviticus 25:35 in other translations

BSBNow if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.
WEB“‘If your brother has become poor, and his hand can’t support himself among you, then you shall uphold him. He shall live with you like an alien and a temporary resident.
ASVAnd if thy brother be waxed poor, and his hand fail with thee; then thou shalt uphold him: as a stranger and a sojourner shall he live with thee.
YLT‘And when thy brother is become poor, and his hand hath failed with thee, then thou hast kept hold on him, sojourner and settler, and he hath lived with thee;
DARBYAnd if thy brother grow poor, and he be fallen into decay beside thee, then thou shalt relieve him, be he stranger or sojourner, that he may live beside thee.
BBEAnd if your brother becomes poor and is not able to make a living, then you are to keep him with you, helping him as you would a man from another country who is living among you.
WebsterAnd if thy brother shall have become poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he may be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

What does Leviticus 25:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 25:35-38
35-38. if thy brother be waxen poor, ... relieve him--This was a most benevolent provision for the poor and unfortunate, designed to aid them or alleviate the evils of their condition. Whether a native Israelite or a mere sojourner, his richer neighbor was required to give him food, lodging, and a supply of money without usury. Usury was severely condemned (Psa 15:5; Eze 18:8, 17), but the prohibition cannot be considered as applicable to the modern practice of men in business, borrowing and lending at legal rates of interest.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Leviticus 25:35-38
Poverty and decay are great grievances, and very common; the poor ye have always with you. Thou shalt relieve him; by sympathy, pitying the poor; by service, doing for them; and by supply, giving to them according to their necessity, and thine ability. Poor debtors must not be oppressed. Observe the arguments here used against extortion: "Fear thy God." Relieve the poor, "that they may live with thee;" for they may be serviceable to thee. The rich can as ill spare the poor, as the poor can the rich. It becomes those that have received mercy to show mercy.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Leviticus 25:35 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְכִֽי\־ve.khi-and ifH3588
יָמ֣וּךְya.Mukhhe will become impoverishedH4134
אָחִ֔יךָ'a.Chi.khabrother yourH251
וּמָ֥טָהu.Ma.tahand it will slipH4131
יָד֖וֹya.Dohand hisH3027
עִמָּ֑ךְ'i.Makhwith youH5973
וְהֶֽחֱזַ֣קְתָּve.he.che.Zak.taand you will strengthenH2388
בּ֔וֹbo<in> <the> him
גֵּ֧רgera sojournerH1616
וְתוֹשָׁ֛בve.to.Shavand a resident alienH8453
וָחַ֖יva.Chaiand he will liveH2421
עִמָּֽךְ\׃'i.Makhwith youH5973

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Leviticus 25:35

  • Deuteronomy 15:7-8

    If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

  • Acts 11:29

    Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:

  • Luke 6:35

    But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

  • Leviticus 19:34

    But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

  • Exodus 23:9

    Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

  • Deuteronomy 10:18-19

    He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

  • Leviticus 25:25

    If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.

  • Deuteronomy 24:14-15

    Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.

  • Psalms 41:1

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

  • Proverbs 14:31

    He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

  • Psalms 112:9

    He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

  • Psalms 37:26

    He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thy brother.
25; De 15:7,8; Pr 14:20,21; 17:5; 19:17; Mr 14:7; Joh 12:8; 2Co 8:9
Jas 2:5,6
fallen in decay. Heb. his hand faileth. then.
Ps 37:26; 41:1; 112:5,9; Pr 14:31; Lu 6:35; Ac 11:29
Ro 12:13,18,20; 2Co 9:1,12-15; Ga 2:10; 1Jo 3:17
relieve. Heb. strengthen. a stranger.
19:34; Ex 23:9; De 10:18,19; Mt 25:35; Heb 13:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Leviticus 25:34

    But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession.

  • Leviticus 25:35

    And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.

  • Leviticus 25:36

    Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

Read all of Leviticus 25

Leviticus 25:35 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y cuando tu hermano empobreciere, y se acogiere á ti, tú lo ampararás: como peregrino y extranjero vivirá contigo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si ton frère est devenu pauvre, et que sa main devienne tremblante à côté de toi, tu le soutiendras, étranger ou hôte, afin qu’il vive à côté de toi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn dein Bruder verarmt und seine Hand bei dir wankend wird, so sollst du ihn unterstützen; wie der Fremdling und der Beisasse soll er bei dir leben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si attenuatus fuerit frater tuus, et infirmus manu, et susceperis eum quasi advenam et peregrinum, et vixerit tecum,