Lexical Summary tarbith: Increase, interest, usury Original Word: תַּרְבִּית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance increase, unjust gain From rabah; multiplication, i.e. Percentage or bonus in addition to principal -- increase, unjust gain. see HEBREW rabah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rabah Definition increment, interest, usury NASB Translation increase (3), profits (1), usurious (1), usury (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs תַרְבִּית noun feminine increment, interest, usury (= מַרְבִּית 1b; compare (on both) Arabic Topical Lexicon Meaning and Concept תַּרְבִּית (tarbith) denotes “increase” in the sense of gain accrued from a loan. In the five Old Testament occurrences it refers specifically to interest (or usury) taken from the needy, standing alongside נֶשֶׁךְ (neshekh, “bite”) as a parallel term for exploitative profit. Occurrences and Context • Proverbs 28:8 warns, “He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.” Scripture depicts such wealth-building as temporary and ultimately transferred to the righteous. Together these passages frame תַּרְבִּית as an indicator of either covenant faithfulness or apostasy, depending on whether it is rejected or embraced. Historical and Cultural Background In the agrarian economy of ancient Israel, loans were commonly sought by the poor to survive a failed harvest or other crisis. Mosaic law protected such borrowers: “If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest” (Exodus 22:25). Taking תַּרְבִּית from a fellow Israelite thus violated covenant ethics, exploiting vulnerability and threatening the kinship solidarity on which the community depended. Outside Israel (Deuteronomy 23:20) interest was permitted, reflecting a distinction between covenant family and foreign trade. Theological Emphases 1. Justice and Mercy. Refusal to exact תַּרְבִּית embodies God’s concern that economic power never be used to “bite” the poor (cf. Leviticus 25:35-38). Charging it marks a breakdown of love of neighbor. Connections with Wider Biblical Teaching • Psalm 15:5 includes refusal to “lend money at interest” among the qualities of one who may dwell on God’s holy hill. Practical and Ministry Implications • Teaching on biblical finance should highlight the heart issue—profit must never eclipse compassion. Summary תַּרְבִּית serves as a litmus test of covenant fidelity: when God’s people refuse unjust profit, they reflect His character of mercy; when they demand it, they invite judgment. The enduring principle is clear—economic dealings must be governed by love, justice, and trust in the Lord rather than by the pursuit of gain at another’s expense. Forms and Transliterations וְתַרְבִּ֣ית וְתַרְבִּ֥ית וְתַרְבִּית֙ וְתַרְבִּ֑ית ותרבית vetarBitLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 28:8 HEB: [וּבְתַרְבִּית כ] (וְתַרְבִּ֑ית ק) לְחוֹנֵ֖ן NAS: by interest and usury Gathers KJV: He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth INT: his wealth interest increase is gracious to the poor Ezekiel 18:8 Ezekiel 18:13 Ezekiel 18:17 Ezekiel 22:12 5 Occurrences |
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IV. take usury, 
interest, usury, Syriac 
; SaalschützMos. Recht (ii. 1848), 859 HoelemannLetzte Bibelstud. (1885), 297 f. DiLeviticus 25:36 BennHast. DB DEBT); — always absolute ׳ת: + נֶשֶׁךְ