Interest, in the context of the Bible, primarily refers to the concept of charging or paying a fee for the borrowing of money or goods. The practice of charging interest, also known as usury, is addressed in various passages throughout the Scriptures, reflecting the economic and ethical considerations of ancient Israelite society.

Old Testament

The Old Testament provides several directives regarding the charging of interest, particularly among the Israelites. In Exodus 22:25 , the law states, "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him; you must not charge him interest." This command underscores the importance of compassion and support within the community, especially towards the poor and needy.

Leviticus 25:35-37 further elaborates on this principle: "If your brother becomes impoverished and cannot support himself among you, help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, so that your brother can continue to live among you. You must not lend him your money at interest or sell him your food at a profit." Here, the emphasis is on maintaining the dignity and welfare of fellow Israelites, ensuring that financial transactions do not exploit those in vulnerable positions.

Deuteronomy 23:19-20 provides additional guidance: "Do not charge your brother interest on money, food, or any other type of loan. You may charge a foreigner interest, but you must not charge your brother interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything to which you put your hand in the land you are entering to possess." This passage distinguishes between Israelites and foreigners, allowing interest to be charged to the latter but not to fellow Israelites, highlighting a sense of communal responsibility and solidarity.

New Testament

In the New Testament, the teachings of Jesus and the apostles do not explicitly address the issue of interest in the same legalistic terms as the Old Testament. However, the principles of love, generosity, and selflessness permeate the teachings of Christ and His followers, which can be applied to financial dealings.

Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:34-35 reflects a broader ethic of generosity: "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." This passage encourages believers to lend without expecting repayment, embodying a spirit of grace and kindness.

Historical and Cultural Context

In ancient Israel, the prohibition against charging interest was rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The Israelites were called to reflect God's character in their dealings with one another, promoting justice, mercy, and community welfare. The economic structure of Israel was agrarian, and the charging of interest could lead to severe hardship for those who were already struggling, potentially resulting in the loss of land or even enslavement.

The distinction between Israelites and foreigners in the application of interest laws reflects the broader social and legal framework of the time, where different rules applied to those within the covenant community and those outside it.

Theological Implications

The biblical teachings on interest highlight the importance of compassion, justice, and community support. They challenge believers to consider the ethical implications of their financial practices and to prioritize relationships over profit. The call to lend without expecting repayment echoes the grace and generosity of God, who provides for His people without condition.

In summary, the biblical perspective on interest emphasizes the need for fairness and compassion in financial dealings, encouraging believers to reflect God's character in their interactions with others.Exodus 22:25
If you lend money to any of my people that is poor by you, you shall not be to him as an usurer, neither shall you lay on him usury.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 25:36,37
Take you no usury of him, or increase: but fear your God; that your brother may live with you.
Nave's Topical Index

Deuteronomy 23:19,20
You shall not lend on usury to your brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent on usury:
Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 5:1-13
And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 15:5
He that puts not out his money to usury, nor takes reward against the innocent. He that does these things shall never be moved.
Nave's Topical Index

Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 24:2
And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 18:8,9,13,17
He that has not given forth on usury, neither has taken any increase, that has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true judgment between man and man,
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 22:12
In you have they taken gifts to shed blood; you have taken usury and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten me, said the Lord GOD.
Nave's Topical Index

1. (n.) To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work.

2. (n.) To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally.

3. (n.) To cause or permit to share.

4. (n.) Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern.

5. (n.) Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.

6. (n.) Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit.

7. (n.) Premium paid for the use of money, -- usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars.

8. (n.) Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.

9. (n.) The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.

INTEREST

in'-ter-est (neshekh, mashsha'; tokos): The Hebrew word neshekh is from a root which means "to bite"; thus interest is "something bitten off." The other word, mashsa', means "lending on interest." The Greek term is from the root tikto, "to produce" or "beget," hence, interest is something begotten or produced by money. The Hebrew words are usually translated "usury," but this meant the same as interest, all interest being reckoned as usury.

Long before Abraham's time money had been loaned at a fixed rate of interest in Babylonia and almost certainly in Egypt. The Code of Hammurabi gives regulations regarding the lending and borrowing of money, the usual interest being 20 percent. Sometimes it was only 11 2/3 and 13 1/3, as shown by contract tablets. In one case, if the loan was not paid in two months, 18 per cent interest would be charged. Corn (grain), dates, onions, etc., were loaned at interest. Thus Moses and Israel would be familiar with commercial loans and interest. In Israel there was no system of credit or commercial loans in Moses' time and after. A poor man borrowed because he was poor. The law of Moses (Exodus 22:25) forbade loaning at interest. There was to be no creditor and no taker of interest among them (Leviticus 25:36, 37). Deuteronomy permits them to lend on interest to a foreigner (Deuteronomy 23:19, 20), but not to a brother Israelite. That this was considered the proper thing in Israel for centuries is seen in Psalm 15:5, while Proverbs 28:8 implies that it was an unusual thing, interest being generally exacted and profit made. Ezekiel condemns it as a heinous sin (Ezekiel 18:8, 13, 17) and holds up the ideal of righteousness as not taking interest (22:12). Isaiah 24:2 implies that it was a business in that age, the lender and borrower being social types. Jeremiah implies that there was not always the best feeling between lenders and borrowers (15:10). According to Nehemiah 5:7, 10, rich Jews were lending to others and exacting heavy interest. Nehemiah condemns such conduct and forbids its continuance, citing himself as an example of lending without interest. The lenders restored 1 percent of that exacted.

In the New Testament, references to interest occur in the parable of the Pounds (Luke 19:23) and of the Talents (Matthew 25:27). Here the men were expected to put their master's money out at interest, and condemnation followed the failure to do so. Thus the principle of receiving interest is not condemned in the Old Testament, only it was not to be taken from a brother Israelite. In the New Testament it is distinctly encouraged.

See also USURY.

J. J. Reeve

5110. tokos -- a bringing forth, birth, fig. interest, usury
... interest, usury. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: tokos Phonetic
Spelling: (tok'-os) Short Definition: interest, usury Definition: interest ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5110.htm - 6k

3552. noseo -- to be sick
... disease. Word Origin from nosos Definition to be sick NASB Word Usage has
a morbid interest (1), morbid interest (1). dote. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3552.htm - 6k

3199. melo -- to be an object of care
... of , "to care, be concerned") -- to care about (be concerned with), especially paying
attention (giving thought) to -- ie "taking an interest" () with the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3199.htm - 7k

4878. sunantilambanomai -- to take hold with at the side, hence to ...
... sunantilambanomai Phonetic Spelling: (soon-an-tee-lam-ban'-om-ahee) Short Definition:
I assist, help Definition: I lend a hand along with, take interest in (a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4878.htm - 7k

324. anadechomai -- to undertake, receive
... 1209 , "to welcome/receive") -- properly, receive up to the limit (); (figuratively)
to welcome with gladness (openness), ie interest (open-heartedly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/324.htm - 7k

2204. zeo -- to boil, be hot
... a primitive verb) -- properly, to bubble over because enough to (J. Thayer);
(figuratively) to show great ; be (literally "boiling" with interest or desire ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2204.htm - 7k

278. ametameletos -- not repented of
... 278 (an adjective, derived from 1 "not" and 33387, "regret") -- properly, no change
of concern (interest), ie for an action because it was done from (true ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/278.htm - 7k

3338. metamelomai -- to regret, repent
... metamelomai Phonetic Spelling: (met-am-el'-lom-ahee) Short Definition: I change
my mind Definition: (lit: I change one care or interest for another), I change ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3338.htm - 7k

3403. mimnesko -- to remind, remember
... The high level of (self) involvement and interest motivating this remembering
accounts for why it is always in the Greek middle voice.]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3403.htm - 7k

1731. endeiknumi -- to indicate (by word or act), to prove
... 1731 ("undeniably display") always occurs in the Greek voice which underlines the
high level of personal interest shown by the one making something . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1731.htm - 8k

5391b. nashak -- to pay or give interest
... 5391a, 5391b. nashak. 5392 . to pay or give interest. Transliteration:
nashak Short Definition: interest. Word Origin denominative ...
/hebrew/5391b.htm - 5k

5392. neshek -- interest, usury
... 5391b, 5392. neshek. 5393 . interest, usury. Transliteration: neshek
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-shek) Short Definition: interest. ...
/hebrew/5392.htm - 6k

4855. mashsha -- lending on interest, usury
... 4854, 4855. mashsha. 4856 . lending on interest, usury. Transliteration:
mashsha Phonetic Spelling: (mash-shaw') Short Definition: usury. ...
/hebrew/4855.htm - 6k

5377. nasha -- to lend on interest, be a creditor
... 5376, 5377. nasha. 5378 . to lend on interest, be a creditor. Transliteration:
nasha Phonetic Spelling: (naw-shaw') Short Definition: made. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/5377.htm - 6k

8636. tarbith -- increment, interest, usury
... 8635, 8636. tarbith. 8637 . increment, interest, usury. Transliteration: tarbith
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-beeth') Short Definition: increase. ...
/hebrew/8636.htm - 6k

5391. nashak -- to bite
... bite, lend upon usury A primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent);
figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan -- bite, lend upon usury. ...
/hebrew/5391.htm - 5k

5378. nasha -- to beguile, deceive
... A primitive root (perhaps identical with nasha', through the idea of imposition);
to lend on interest; by implication, to dun for debt -- X debt, exact, giver ...
/hebrew/5378.htm - 6k

5383. nashah -- to lend, become a creditor
... A primitive root (rather identical with nashah, in the sense of nasha'); to lend
or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest -- creditor, exact ...
/hebrew/5383.htm - 6k

4768. marbith -- increase, great number, greatness
... From rabah; a multitude; also offspring; specifically interest (on capital) -- greatest
part, greatness, increase, multitude. see HEBREW rabah. 4767, 4768. ...
/hebrew/4768.htm - 6k

7737a. shavah -- to agree with, be like, resemble
... to agree with, be like, resemble NASB Word Usage alike (1), commensurate (1), compare
(1), compares (1), composed (2), equal (1), interest (1), level (1), like ...
/hebrew/7737a.htm - 5k

The Interest of his Biography.
... I. The Interest of his Biography. "John, than which man a sadder or a greater
Not till this day has been of woman born; John, like ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/i the interest of his.htm

In what Interest the Princes of the Nations Wished False Religions ...
... Book IV. Chapter 32."In What Interest the Princes of the Nations Wished False
Religions to Continue Among the People Subject to Them. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 32 in what interest the.htm

He Bespeaks his Affectionate Interest for the Christians in his ...
... Book IV. Chapter XIII."He bespeaks his Affectionate Interest for the
Christians in his Country. "Imagine, then, with what joy ...
/.../the life of constantine/chapter xiii he bespeaks his affectionate.htm

Organizes a Church at Deland. Health Improves. Relapses. Starts ...
... Relapses. Starts Home. Resignation. Sells His Interest in the Guide. Begins Writing
again. ... Resignation. Sells His Interest in the Guide. Begins Writing again. ...
/.../chapter xviii organizes a church.htm

"But Clearly, as we Experienced, He Repaired, with Manifold ...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter XIV. "But clearly, as we experienced,
he repaired, with manifold interest? "But clearly ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xiv but clearly as.htm

When Herod is Rejected in Arabia, He Makes Haste to Rome Where ...
... CHAPTER 14. When Herod Is Rejected In Arabia, He Makes Haste To Rome Where
Antony And Caesar Join Their Interest To Make Him King . ...
/.../chapter 14 when herod is.htm

Faustus Asserts that Even if the Old Testament could be Shown to ...
... Faustus asserts that even if the Old Testament could be shown to contain predictions,
it would be of interest only to the Jews, pagan literature subserving the ...
/.../faustus asserts that even if.htm

These Four Repair to John on Account of his Interest; for this ...
... Chapter XIII."These Four repair to John on account of his Interest; for this Reason,
Theophilus was enraged, and prepares himself to fight against John. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xiii these four repair to.htm

All the Above Illegalities were Carried on in the Interest of ...
... Section 6. All the above illegalities were carried on in the interest of
Arianism. Gregory then is an Arian, and has been sent to ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 6 all the above.htm

The Poor Debtor.
... He didn't say any thing about interest, nor did I, though I am entitled
to, and ought to have received it. But, as long as he came ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/the poor debtor.htm

Interest (35 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or
passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him ...
/i/interest.htm - 21k

Usury (17 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The sum paid for the use of money, hence interest;
not, as in the modern sense, exorbitant interest. The ...
/u/usury.htm - 15k

Banking
... 1. Introductory: "Banking" in the full modern sense, of taking money on deposit
and lending it out on interest, is of comparatively recent origin. ...
/b/banking.htm - 13k

Debt (48 Occurrences)
... The Mosaic law encouraged the practice of lending (Deuteronomy 15:7; Psalm 37:26;
Matthew 5:42); but it forbade the exaction of interest except from foreigners ...
/d/debt.htm - 28k

Loan (9 Occurrences)
... The Mosaic law required that when an Israelite needed to borrow, what he asked was
to be freely lent to him, and no interest was to be charged, although ...
/l/loan.htm - 16k

Lend (21 Occurrences)
... 2. History of Lending in the Bible and Apocrypha: (1) Lending on interest
to the poor is prohibited in the code in Exodus 22:25. ...
/l/lend.htm - 18k

Debtor (7 Occurrences)
... DEBT; DEBTOR. det, det'-er: It is difficult nowadays to think of debt without
associating with it the idea of interest, and even usury. ...
/d/debtor.htm - 16k

Lent (9 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 23:19 You shall not lend on interest to your brother; interest of money,
interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest: (WEB KJV ...
/l/lent.htm - 9k

Loaned (2 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 23:19 You shall not lend on interest to your brother; interest of money,
interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest: (See NAS). ...
/l/loaned.htm - 7k

Excessive (12 Occurrences)
... physicians. (YLT). Proverbs 28:8 He who increases his wealth by excessive
interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor. (WEB). ...
/e/excessive.htm - 10k

What is usury in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian use a credit card? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about lending money? | GotQuestions.org

Interest: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus