In biblical times, the concept of mortgaging, while not identical to modern practices, involved pledging property or assets as security for a debt. This practice is notably mentioned in the context of the socio-economic conditions of ancient Israel, particularly during periods of financial distress.

Biblical References:

The primary biblical reference to mortgaging is found in the book of Nehemiah. During the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, Nehemiah faced a crisis where the Jewish people were mortgaging their fields, vineyards, and homes to buy grain during a famine. This situation is described in Nehemiah 5:3-5 :

"Others were saying, 'We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.' Still others were saying, 'We have borrowed money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.'"

This passage highlights the severe economic hardship faced by the Israelites, leading them to mortgage their properties and even sell their children into servitude to meet their basic needs and obligations.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, land was a critical asset, often tied to family inheritance and identity. The mortgaging of land was a desperate measure, reflecting the severity of the economic crisis. The Law of Moses provided guidelines to protect individuals from perpetual debt and loss of property. For instance, the Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25, was a time when all debts were to be forgiven, and mortgaged lands were to be returned to their original owners. This law underscored the importance of family heritage and the prevention of long-term poverty.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

The practice of mortgaging in the biblical narrative raises significant moral and ethical issues. Nehemiah's response to the crisis was one of righteous indignation. He confronted the nobles and officials, accusing them of exploiting their fellow Jews. Nehemiah 5:9-11 records his rebuke:

"So I continued, 'What you are doing is not right. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies? I, as well as my brothers and my men, have also lent the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest. Please restore to them, even today, their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, along with the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine, and oil.'"

Nehemiah's leadership emphasized the importance of compassion, justice, and adherence to God's commandments. He called for the restoration of property and the cessation of usury, reflecting the biblical principle of caring for the poor and vulnerable.

Theological Implications:

The issue of mortgaging in the Bible serves as a reminder of God's concern for economic justice and the well-being of His people. It highlights the tension between economic necessity and ethical responsibility. The biblical narrative encourages believers to act with integrity, fairness, and mercy, ensuring that financial practices do not exploit or oppress others.

In summary, the concept of mortgaging in the Bible, as illustrated in Nehemiah, provides insight into the economic challenges of ancient Israel and underscores the enduring biblical principles of justice, mercy, and the protection of family and community.(imp. & p. p.) of Mortgage.

Christ the Redeemer
... Luke 1:11. Having obtained eternal redemption for us.' Hebrews 9:12. Christ's
purchasing redemption for us implies that our sins mortgaged and sold us. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 christ the redeemer.htm

Christ and Man in the Atonement
... impossible. Sin is, and it abides. The sinner can never escape from the past.
His future is mortgaged to it, and it cannot be redeemed. He ...
/.../denney/the atonement and the modern mind/chapter iii christ and man.htm

Written Contracts in the Name of Idols. Tacit Consent.
... angels! Footnotes: [334] Or, "mortgaged.". [335] This is, perhaps, the
most obscure and difficult passage in the entire treatise. ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xxiii written contracts in the.htm

Christ and Man in the Atonement
... impossible. Sin is, and it abides. The sinner can never escape from the past.
His future is mortgaged to it, and it cannot be redeemed. He ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/denney/the death of christ/chapter 9 christ and man.htm

The Jewish Girl
... But at home the knight's wife sold all her jewels, and mortgaged castle and lands,
and his friends contributed large sums, for enormous was the ransom demanded ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the jewish girl.htm

Ezra-Nehemiah
... of the poor by the rich, appealing to his own very different conduct, and finally
induced the nobles to restore to the poor their mortgaged property (v.). By ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ezra-nehemiah.htm

Job's Sure Knowledge
... slavery because of the debt, his goel, if he was able, had to redeem him; and hence
we get the word "redeemer." Or if estates became mortgaged through poverty ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 50 1904/jobs sure knowledge.htm

"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
... of God," Romans 3:23. That inheritance of eternal life, we have mortgaged
it, and given away our right to it. The favour of God ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xiv and the redeemer.htm

Yorkshire and the Settlement System.
... At one time James Charlesworth, in an excess of zeal, mortgaged the manufacturing
business, speculated with the money, and lost it; and thus caused others to ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter x yorkshire and the.htm

The Day of Atonement
... On that day sinners go free; on that day our poor mortgaged lands are liberated,
and our poor estates which have been forfeited by our spiritual bankruptcy are ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the day of atonement.htm

Mortgaged (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Mortgage. Multi-Version Concordance
Mortgaged (1 Occurrence). Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there ...
/m/mortgaged.htm - 6k

Mortgage
... In time of great need for food, "Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging
(the King James Version "have mortgaged") our fields," etc. ...
/m/mortgage.htm - 7k

Redeem (56 Occurrences)
... repurchase. 2. (vt) To recall, as an estate, or to regain, as mortgaged property,
by paying what may be due by force of the mortgage. 3 ...
/r/redeem.htm - 25k

Mortgaging (1 Occurrence)

/m/mortgaging.htm - 6k

Buy (71 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards,
and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. (KJV WBS). ...
/b/buy.htm - 29k

Corn (107 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards,
and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. ...
/c/corn.htm - 41k

Mortgaged: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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