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⇱ Deuteronomy 15:7 If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

◄ Deuteronomy 15:7 ►
New International Version
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.

New Living Translation
“But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them.

English Standard Version
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

Berean Standard Bible
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,

New American Standard Bible
“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

NASB 1995
“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

NASB 1977
“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;

Legacy Standard Bible
“If there is a needy one among you, one of your brothers, in any of your gates of the towns in your land which Yahweh your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand from your needy brother;

Amplified Bible
“If there is a poor man among you, one of your fellow Israelites, in any of your cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not be heartless, nor close-fisted with your poor brother;

Christian Standard Bible
“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.

American Standard Version
If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother;

Contemporary English Version
After the LORD your God gives land to each of you, there may be poor Israelites in the town where you live. If there are, then don't be mean and selfish with your money.

English Revised Version
If there be with thee a poor man, 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:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what you must do whenever there are poor Israelites in one of your cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Good News Translation
"If in any of the towns in the land that the LORD your God is giving you there are Israelites in need, then do not be selfish and refuse to help them.

International Standard Version
"If there should be a poor man among your relatives in one of the cities of the land that the LORD your God is about to give you, don't be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative.

NET Bible
If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the LORD your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition.

New Heart English Bible
If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;

Webster's Bible Translation
If there shall be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD the God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother:
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother.

World English Bible
If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When there is with you any poor of one of your brothers, in one of your cities, in your land which your God YHWH is giving to you, you do not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your needy brother;

Young's Literal Translation
'When there is with thee any needy one of one of thy brethren, in one of thy cities, in thy land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee, thou dost not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother;

Smith's Literal Translation
When the needy shall be among thee, from one of thy brethren, in one of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God gave to thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, and thou shalt not shut thy hand from thy needy brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If one of thy brethren that dwelleth within the gates of thy city in the land which the Lord thy God will give thee, come to poverty: thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor close thy hand,

Catholic Public Domain Version
If one of your brothers, who dwells within the gates of your city, in the land which the Lord your God will give to you, falls into poverty, you shall not harden your heart, nor tighten your hand.

New American Bible
If one of your kindred is in need in any community in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand against your kin who is in need.

New Revised Standard Version
If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If there is among you a poor person of one of your brethren within any of your towns in the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if there will be a poor one among you, one of your brethren in one of your cities in the land that LORD JEHOVAH your God gives to you, you shall not harden your heart and you shall not shut your hand from your poor brother:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If there be among you a needy man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates, in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if there shall be in the midst of thee a poor man of thy brethren in one of thy cities in the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, neither shalt thou by any means close up thine hand from thy brother who is in want.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Generosity in Lending and Giving
7If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. 8Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs.…

Cross References
Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Luke 6:34-36
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. / Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

1 John 3:17-18
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.

James 2:15-16
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?

Proverbs 28:27
Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Acts 20:35
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. / Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. / Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

Leviticus 25:35-37
Now 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. / Do not take any interest or profit from him, but fear your God, that your countryman may live among you. / You must not lend him your silver at interest or sell him your food for profit.

Psalm 41:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Luke 14:13-14
But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.


Deuteronomy 15:9
Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Proverbs 21:13
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Matthew 18:30
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

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Deuteronomy 15
1. The seventh year a year of release for the poor
7. one must be generous in lending or giving
12. A Hebrew servant, except by choice, must be freed in the seventh year
19. All firstborn males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord.














If there is a poor man among your brothers
This phrase emphasizes the communal and familial responsibility within the Israelite society. The term "brothers" indicates a close kinship, suggesting that the Israelites were to view each other as family. This reflects the covenant community established by God, where mutual care and support were expected. The concept of brotherhood is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to love one another (John 13:34-35).

within any of the gates
The "gates" refer to the entrances of cities or towns, which were central places for community gatherings, legal matters, and trade. This indicates that the command to care for the poor was not limited to private or rural settings but was a public and communal responsibility. The gates were often where justice was administered, highlighting the importance of fairness and compassion in societal dealings (Ruth 4:1-11).

in the land that the LORD your God is giving you
This phrase underscores the divine gift of the Promised Land to the Israelites. It serves as a reminder that the land and its resources were blessings from God, and thus, the Israelites were stewards of these gifts. The land was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:7), and with it came the responsibility to uphold God's laws, including caring for the needy.

then you are not to harden your heart
The hardening of the heart is a recurring theme in Scripture, often associated with disobedience and rebellion against God (Exodus 7:3). Here, it warns against indifference and insensitivity towards the plight of the poor. A softened heart is one that is responsive to God's commands and compassionate towards others, reflecting the character of God Himself.

or shut your hand from your poor brother
This phrase calls for tangible action, not just emotional or spiritual concern. The open hand symbolizes generosity and willingness to help, contrasting with a closed hand that signifies selfishness and neglect. The call to action is consistent with the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized giving to those in need (Matthew 25:35-40). The open hand also prefigures the ultimate generosity of Christ, who gave His life for humanity.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The original audience of Deuteronomy, the people of Israel, who were given laws and instructions by God through Moses.

2. Moses
The leader and prophet who delivered God's laws to the Israelites, including the instructions in Deuteronomy.

3. The Promised Land
The land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where the Israelites were to settle and live according to God's commandments.

4. The Poor Brother
Refers to any fellow Israelite who is in need or poverty, highlighting the communal responsibility to care for one another.

5. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who commands His people to act with compassion and justice.
Teaching Points
Compassionate Heart
God calls us to have a heart of compassion, not hardening our hearts against those in need. This requires a conscious decision to be open and generous.

Open Hand
The instruction to not "shut your hand" implies active generosity. We are to be willing to give and support those who are struggling.

Community Responsibility
The verse emphasizes the communal aspect of caring for the poor, suggesting that it is a collective responsibility of God's people.

Reflecting God's Character
By caring for the poor, we reflect God's character of mercy and justice, demonstrating His love to the world.

Eternal Perspective
Our actions towards the poor have eternal significance, as they are seen and rewarded by God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 15:7?

2. How does Deuteronomy 15:7 encourage generosity towards the poor among us?

3. What heart attitude is required when helping the needy, according to Deuteronomy 15:7?

4. How can we apply "do not harden your heart" in modern contexts?

5. Which New Testament teachings align with Deuteronomy 15:7's call to help the poor?

6. How can we ensure our community reflects the principles in Deuteronomy 15:7?

7. How does Deuteronomy 15:7 address poverty and generosity in society?

8. What historical context influenced the message of Deuteronomy 15:7?

9. How does Deuteronomy 15:7 challenge modern views on wealth distribution?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 15?

11. What does the Bible say about charitable giving?

12. What does the Bible say about almsgiving?

13. What is the Bible's perspective on homelessness?

14. What role does the church play in social justice?
What Does Deuteronomy 15:7 Mean
If there is a poor man among your brothers

Deuteronomy sets the stage by acknowledging that poverty can—and will—arise even among God’s covenant people.

• “Poor man” is not a distant stranger but someone closely connected: a brother. That family language underlines shared responsibility (cf. Acts 4:34–35, where early believers ensured “there was no needy person among them”).

• Scripture never frames poverty as shameful; rather, it becomes an opportunity for God’s people to mirror His compassion (Psalm 72:12–13).

• Recognizing the poor begins with seeing them. The verse assumes we know their condition and cannot plead ignorance (Proverbs 22:2).

within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you

• “Gates” refer to local communities—town squares where justice was administered (Ruth 4:1). The call to mercy is local and practical.

• The land is God’s gift (Leviticus 25:23), so whatever resources Israel enjoys are stewardship items, not personal trophies.

• Because God distributes blessings, He also directs how they are shared. This grounds generosity in gratitude, not guilt (2 Corinthians 9:8–11).

• No town is exempt. Generosity is as universal as God’s ownership of the land (Psalm 24:1).

then you are not to harden your heart

• A “hard heart” is the inner refusal to feel what God feels. Pharaoh displayed it negatively (Exodus 7:13); Israel is warned away from it positively.

• Compassion starts internally. If the heart turns cold, the hand soon closes (Matthew 9:36, noting Jesus “was moved with compassion”).

• God links love for Him with softness toward people (1 John 3:17: “If anyone… sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him, how can the love of God abide in him?”).

• The command is stated negatively to expose how natural resistance must be actively rejected.

or shut your hand from your poor brother

• A hardened heart expresses itself in a clenched fist. The remedy is open-handed giving (Deuteronomy 15:8 continues, “you are to open your hand to him”).

• Practical generosity includes:

– Loaning or gifting resources without grudging (Luke 6:34–35)

– Meeting immediate physical needs—food, clothing, shelter (James 2:15–16)

– Restoring dignity through respectful interaction (Isaiah 58:6–7)

• The “brother” language is repeated to keep relationships personal, not transactional (Galatians 6:10).

• Closing the hand contradicts God’s openhandedness toward us (Psalm 145:16). To refuse help is to misrepresent His character.

summary

Deuteronomy 15:7 calls God’s people to recognize the poor among them, remember that every resource is God-given, keep their hearts tender, and respond with openhanded generosity. Poverty within the covenant community is not a failure of divine provision but an invitation to display God’s mercy in tangible ways. A soft heart leads to an open hand, mirroring the Lord who freely gives every good gift.

(7) A poor man.-"That needeth anything."

Within any of thy gates.--"The poor of thine own city come before the poor of another city."

Thou Shalt not harden.--"There are some men who 'grieve' (grudge) whether they give or not;" therefore it is said, "Thou shalt not harden thy heart; there are some who stretch out the hand (to give), and yet close it; therefore it is said, Thou shalt not shut thine hand."

Verses 7-11. - The reference to the release leads to a prescription regarding readiness to lend to the poor. They were not to harden their hearts against their poorer brethren, nor were they, in the prospect of the year of release, to refuse to lend them what was necessary for their uses, but, on the contrary, were to open their heart and their hand to them according to their need, lest the poor should appeal against them to God, and sin should lie upon them. Verse 7. - Harden thine heart; literally, maize strong, so as to suppress natural compassion and sympathy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there is
יִהְיֶה֩ (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a poor man
אֶבְי֜וֹן (’eḇ·yō·wn)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

among
בְךָ֨ (ḇə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

your brothers
אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ (’a·ḥe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

within any
בְּאַחַ֣ד (bə·’a·ḥaḏ)
Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the gates
שְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ (šə·‘ā·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

in the land
בְּאַ֨רְצְךָ֔ (bə·’ar·ṣə·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

that
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

is giving you,
נֹתֵ֣ן (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

you are not
לֹ֧א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to harden
תְאַמֵּ֣ץ (ṯə·’am·mêṣ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 553: To be stout, strong, bold, alert

your heart
לְבָבְךָ֗ (lə·ḇā·ḇə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

[or]
וְלֹ֤א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

shut
תִקְפֹּץ֙ (ṯiq·pōṣ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7092: To draw together, close, to leap, to die

your hand
יָ֣דְךָ֔ (yā·ḏə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

from your poor
הָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ (hā·’eḇ·yō·wn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 34: In want, needy, poor

brother.
מֵאָחִ֖יךָ (mê·’ā·ḥî·ḵā)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be with you a poor (Deut. De Du)