Usury, the practice of charging excessive or unfair interest on loans, is a topic addressed multiple times in the Bible, particularly within the context of the economic and social laws given to the Israelites. The term "usury" in biblical times often referred to any interest charged on a loan, not just excessive rates. The Bible provides clear instructions regarding the treatment of fellow community members in financial matters, emphasizing fairness, compassion, and the avoidance of exploitation.

Old Testament Teachings

The Old Testament contains explicit prohibitions against usury, especially among the Israelites themselves. 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, particularly towards those in financial distress.

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 well-being of the impoverished, ensuring that financial aid does not become a burden.

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 fellow Israelites and foreigners, allowing interest to be charged to the latter but not to one's own people, highlighting a covenantal community ethic.

Wisdom Literature

The wisdom literature of the Old Testament also addresses the issue of usury. In Proverbs 28:8 , it is written, "He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor." This proverb suggests that wealth gained through exploitative means will ultimately benefit those who are generous and compassionate, reinforcing the moral stance against usury.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets also spoke against the practice of usury, often associating it with broader social injustices. Ezekiel 18:13 condemns those who engage in usury: "He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head." This passage reflects the severity with which God views the exploitation of the vulnerable through financial means.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly address usury in the same manner as the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize love, generosity, and the ethical treatment of others. In Luke 6:34-35 , Jesus teaches, "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 teaching encourages a spirit of generosity that transcends the expectation of repayment, aligning with the broader biblical ethos against usury.

Historical and Theological Perspectives

Throughout history, the Church has grappled with the issue of usury, often condemning it as contrary to Christian ethics. The early Church Fathers, such as Ambrose and Augustine, spoke against the practice, viewing it as incompatible with the love and charity expected of Christians. The medieval Church also maintained prohibitions against usury, although interpretations and applications have evolved over time.

In summary, the biblical stance on usury is rooted in a commitment to justice, compassion, and the protection of the vulnerable. The prohibitions against charging interest, particularly within the covenant community, reflect a broader divine mandate to care for one another and to avoid exploitation in all its forms.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.
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Leviticus 25:35-37
And if your brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with you; then you shall relieve him: yes, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with you.
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Deuteronomy 23:19
You shall not lend on usury to your brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent on usury:
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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.
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Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
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Jeremiah 15:10
Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them does curse me.
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Ezekiel 18:8,13,17
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,
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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.
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Excursus on Usury.
... lucrum ex mutuo exactum aut speratum;" [96] and then goes on to defend the proposition
that, "Usury is forbidden by natural, by divine, and by human law. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/excursus on usury.htm

Whether it is a Sin to Take Usury for Money Lent?
... Reply to Objection 2: The Jews were forbidden to take usury from their brethren,
ie from other Jews. By this we are given to understand ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is a sin.htm

Forasmuch as Many Enrolled among the Clergy, Following ...
... two species of usury, if we bear in mind the grounds on which the prohibition was
made, it will be manifest that every kind of usury is forbidden to clerics ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xvii forasmuch as many.htm

What are the Sins Forbidden in the Eighth Commandment?
... Answer: The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of ... and
man, or in matters of trust; oppression, extortion, usury, bribery, vexatious ...
/.../anonymous/the westminster larger catechism/question 142 0 0 what are the.htm

The Passions are to be Subdued, and we must Abstain from Forbidden ...
... LXIV."The Passions are to Be Subdued, and We Must Abstain from Forbidden Things. ...
He will not give his money to usury, for that is to seek after gain from the ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap lxiv the passions are to.htm

Letter iv. To the Bishops Appointed in Campania, Picenum, Etruria ...
... [36] The practice of usury and trading generally is often forbidden in the Canons,
&c., for the clergy, but its prohibition for the laity is much more unusual ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter iv to the bishops.htm

Whether it was Lawful to Divorce a Wife under the Mosaic Law?
... of prohibition: thus venial sins are said to be permitted because they are not
forbidden. ... Even so they were allowed to lend money for usury to strangers, on ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was lawful to.htm

The Captions of the Arabic Canons Attributed to the Council of ...
... Canon LII. Usury and the base seeking of worldly gain is forbidden to the clergy,
also conversation and fellowship with Jews. Canon LIII. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the captions of the arabic.htm

Whether Men are Bound to Pay Tithes of all Things?
... Moreover the ministers of the New Law are more strictly forbidden to occupy ... unjust:
such, for instance, are things gotten by robbery, theft or usury: and these ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether men are bound to 3.htm

Whether one May Give Alms Out of Ill-Gotten Goods?
... But the profits from whoredom are filthy lucre; wherefore it was forbidden
(Dt.23:18 ... Give not alms from interest and usury: I speak to the faithful to whom ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether one may give alms.htm

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The Christian and Money ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Usury: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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