Sabbatical Year
Deuteronomy 15:1-11
Deu.15.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מקץ: PREP
- שבע: NUM,card
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תעשה: VERB,qal,imf,2,m,sg
- שמטה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 23:10–11 (thematic): Command that the land observe a sabbath in the seventh year and provisions for the poor—an early law parallel to the seventh‑year release (shemittah) idea.
- Leviticus 25:2–7 (verbal): Detailed legislation on the sabbatical year (shemittah), including the land’s rest and related social provisions; uses the same institution and terminology as Deut 15:1.
- Jeremiah 34:14 (quotation): The prophet explicitly cites the command to release Hebrew servants in the seventh year and rebukes its nonobservance, directly echoing Deut 15’s law.
- Nehemiah 5:11–13 (thematic): Nehemiah compels wealthy Judeans to restore fields and cancel debts, applying the social‑justice principle of debt release found in Deut 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- At the end of every seven years you shall make a release.
- At the end of every seven years you shall make a release.
Deu.15.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וזה: CONJ+PRON,dem,m,sg,abs
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- השמטה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- שמוט: VERB,qal,ptc,m,sg
- כל: DET
- בעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ישה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ברעהו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- לא: PART_NEG
- יגש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ואת: CONJ
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- קרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שמטה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ליהוה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 15:1 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same pericope: introduces the sabbatical-year release of debts ('At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release'), echoing the wording and legal intent of v.2.
- Leviticus 25:39-41 (thematic): Leviticus' year-of-release and jubilee legislation addresses the release and restoration of poor Israelites and servants, thematically linked to debt/slave release underlying Deut 15:2.
- Jeremiah 34:8-22 (quotation): Jeremiah recounts and invokes the law of release (seventh‑year emancipation) when condemning Judah’s failure to keep their oath to free slaves—explicitly echoing Deut 15’s command.
- Nehemiah 5:1-13 (allusion): Nehemiah confronts creditors and demands cancellation/restoration of fields and loans, appealing to the spirit (and practice) of the sabbatical release described in Deut 15.
Alternative generated candidates
- And this is the manner of the release: every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exact it from his neighbor or his brother, for it is called the LORD's release.
- And this is the matter of the release: every creditor shall release what he has to his neighbor; he shall not press his neighbor or his brother, for it is called the LORD's release.
Deu.15.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- את: PRT,acc
- הנכרי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- תגש: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ואשר: CONJ+PRON,rel
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- תשמט: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
Parallels
- Deut.23:19-20 (verbal): Nearly identical legal formulation: prohibits taking interest from a brother but permits charging a foreigner — a direct repetition/clarification of the same rule.
- Exod.22:25 (verbal): Forbids charging interest to 'my people' or the poor; shares the explicit prohibition against exacting interest from fellow members of the covenant community.
- Lev.25:35-37 (thematic): Commands support for needy kinsmen and expressly forbids lending at interest or profiting from their distress, developing the same concern for the poor and prohibition of usury.
- Ezek.18:8 (verbal): Part of a righteousness catalogue that includes not giving money on usury — echoes the ethical/legal ban on exploiting fellow Israelites by lending at interest.
- Neh.5:10-13 (thematic): Narrative application: Nehemiah rebukes and forces restoration from those who had exacted usury and seized fields from their countrymen, illustrating enforcement and social consequences of the law.
Alternative generated candidates
- You may require it from the foreigner, but whatever of yours is with your brother you shall release.
- You may exact it from the foreigner, but what is yours with your brother you shall release your hand from.
Deu.15.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אפס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- אביון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- ברך: VERB,qal,inf,NA,NA,NA,NA
- יברכך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,obj:2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- נחלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לרשתה: INF,qal,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Leviticus 25:35-38 (thematic): Prescribes support for poor relatives and forbids profiteering; connects to the covenantal social ethic behind the expectation that the community will not have destitute members.
- Leviticus 26:9-11 (thematic): God promises to turn to Israel, make them fruitful and dwell among them—paralleling Deut 15:4’s assurance that the LORD will bless the people in the land they inherit.
- Deuteronomy 28:11-12 (structural): Part of the covenant blessing sequence promising material abundance and open heavens; closely parallels the idea that God’s blessing of the land removes scarcity among the people.
- Deuteronomy 15:11 (structural): Same chapter and tradition—while 15:4 promises no poor, 15:11 acknowledges the persistent reality of need and commands openhandedness, showing how the promise and the ethical response interact.
- Psalm 72:12-14 (thematic): Describes the righteous ruler delivering the needy and rescuing the poor—echoes the ideal that under divine blessing and just rule the vulnerable are cared for and destitution is alleviated.
Alternative generated candidates
- There will be no poor among you, for the LORD will surely bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance.
- There shall be no poor among you; for the LORD will surely bless you in the land that the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess.
Deu.15.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- רק: PRT
- אם: CONJ
- שמוע: VERB,qal,infc
- תשמע: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- בקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- לשמר: VERB,qal,inf
- לעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- המצוה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- מצוך: VERB,piel,part,1,sg,obj:2,m,sg
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 11:13 (verbal): Same conditional formula 'if you will hearken' linking obedience to God's voice with the fulfillment of his commands and resulting blessings.
- Deuteronomy 28:1 (verbal): Uses the identical conditional 'if you will hearken' to promise outcomes (blessings) tied to careful observance of the commandments.
- Deuteronomy 30:8-10 (thematic): Speaks of God restoring and blessing Israel when they obey his voice and keep his commandments, echoing the link between hearing and faithful observance.
- Leviticus 26:3 (thematic): Promises covenantal blessing 'if you walk in my statutes and keep my commandments,' paralleling the cause-and-effect of obedience in Deut 15:5.
- Joshua 1:7 (verbal): Command to 'observe to do according to all the law' echoes Deut 15:5's injunction to listen to God's voice and diligently keep his commandments.
Alternative generated candidates
- Only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, heeding to keep and do all the commandments I am commanding you today.
- Only if you diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and do all these commandments which I command you today.
Deu.15.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- ברכך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg,obj2ms
- כאשר: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- והעבטת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- גוים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תעבט: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ומשלת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- בגוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ובך: CONJ+PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- ימשלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Deut.28:12-13 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language about lending to many nations and not borrowing, and being 'head' not 'tail'—same covenantal blessing formula as Deut 15:6.
- Leviticus 26:9-13 (thematic): Covenantal blessing motif: God promises agricultural prosperity, presence among Israel, removal of yoke, and exaltation—parallel themes of divine blessing and Israel's wellbeing and exaltation.
- Isaiah 60:10-12 (thematic): Prophetic vision of nations serving and honoring Zion (foreigners building walls, kings serving), echoing the theme that other nations will be subject to Israel's restoration/exaltation.
- Psalm 72:8-11 (thematic): Royal/mesianic prayer envisioning dominion 'from sea to sea' and all kings and nations bowing—reflects the motif of Israel (or its ruler) exercising rule and receiving homage from nations.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the LORD your God will bless you, as he has promised you; you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.
- For the LORD your God will bless you, as he has promised you; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.
Deu.15.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- אביון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאחד: PREP+NUM,card,sg
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- באחד: PREP
- שעריך: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בארצך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תאמץ: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- לבבך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- תקפץ: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- מאחיך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- האביון: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 15:11 (verbal): Almost identical instruction: the poor will always be present; do not harden your heart but open your hand to the needy.
- Leviticus 25:35 (thematic): Commands support for a poor kinsman who has become needy, echoing the social obligation to help fellow Israelites.
- Leviticus 19:10 (thematic): Requires leaving gleanings for the poor and stranger in the harvest—another provision protecting and feeding the needy.
- Proverbs 19:17 (thematic): Presents generosity to the poor as a righteous act (likened to lending to the LORD), reflecting the ethical motive behind Deuteronomy’s command.
- Matthew 25:35-40 (allusion): New Testament identification of care for the hungry, thirsty, stranger, and needy with service to Christ—echoes Israel’s duty to attend to the poor.
Alternative generated candidates
- If among you, one of your brothers becomes poor in any of your towns in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.
- If there is among you a poor person of one of your brothers in any of your towns in your land that the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your poor brother.
Deu.15.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תפתח: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- והעבט: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- תעביטנו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- די: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מחסרו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יחסר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deut 15:7 (structural): Immediate context: commands not to harden the heart toward a poor brother and introduces the instruction to open the hand — the direct narrative setting for 15:8.
- Deut 15:11 (verbal): Repeats and summarizes the command to 'open your hand to the poor,' giving the reason that there will always be needy persons — a close verbal and thematic echo of 15:8.
- Lev 25:35-37 (thematic): Requires Israelites to support a needy kinsman, supply his needs, and refrain from charging interest — parallels Deut 15:8's injunction to open the hand and provide for another's lack.
- Prov 19:17 (thematic): Affirms that showing kindness or lending to the poor is as if lending to the LORD; theological reinforcement of the moral worth of aiding those in need, resonant with Deut 15:8.
- Matt 5:42 (verbal): Jesus' instruction 'Give to him who begs of you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away' echoes the call to open one’s hand and freely assist those lacking, a New Testament parallel to Deut 15:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- But you shall open wide your hand to him and freely lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he lacks.
- But you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he lacks.
Deu.15.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- השמר: VERB,hitpael,imperat,2,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- פן: CONJ
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- לבבך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- בליעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- קרבה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- שנת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- השבע: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שנת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- השמטה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ורעה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עינך: NOUN,f,pl,abs+2ms
- באחיך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const+2,m,sg
- האביון: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ולא: CONJ
- תתן: VERB,qal,imprf,2,_,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- וקרא: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- חטא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deut.15.10 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same command: where 15:9 warns against hardening the heart at the year of release, 15:10 commands generous giving to the poor so one’s heart is not grieved.
- Leviticus 25:35-38 (thematic): Prescribes support for a poor kinsman and protections in the sabbatical/jubilee context (do not exact interest; sustain the needy), parallel to Deut.15's concern for care at the year of release.
- Leviticus 25:39-43 (thematic): Commands humane treatment of an impoverished Israelite (not ruling harshly as a slave), reinforcing the ethical concern against exploiting or neglecting poor brothers found in Deut.15:9.
- Proverbs 21:13 (thematic): ‘Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call and not be answered’—a proverb linking refusal to help the poor with negative divine/evaluative consequences, echoing Deut.15:9’s warning that the poor will cry to Yahweh and it will be sin.
- James 2:15-17 (thematic): Condemns saying kind words without providing for a needy brother’s bodily needs; resonates with Deut.15:9’s moral requirement to give to the poor rather than withholding at the sabbatical year.
Alternative generated candidates
- Be careful lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year—the year of release—is near,’ and your eye be evil toward your poor brother and you give him nothing; and he cries to the LORD against you, and it becomes sin to you.
- Be careful lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year—the release is near'—and your eye be evil toward your poor brother and you give him nothing; then he will cry to the LORD against you, and it will be sin in you.
Deu.15.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נתון: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- תתן: VERB,qal,imprf,2,_,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- ירע: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לבבך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- בתתך: PREP+VERB,qal,inf+PRON,2,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- בגלל: PREP
- הדבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- יברכך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,obj:2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעשך: NOUN,m,pl+PRON,2,m,sg
- ובכל: CONJ+PREP
- משלח: VERB,piel,part,3,m,sg
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
Parallels
- Deut 15:7-11 (verbal): Same pericope — commands openhandedness to the poor and warns against a reluctant heart; verse 10 repeats and summarizes the instruction and the promise of Yahweh’s blessing for such giving.
- Leviticus 25:35-37 (thematic): Obligation to support needy kinsmen (provide for them and not charge interest); parallels Deut.’s requirement to aid the poor as a communal duty grounded in God’s provision.
- Proverbs 19:17 (thematic): “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him” — links giving to the poor with divine recompense, echoing Deut 15:10’s promise that God will bless one’s work for generosity.
- Proverbs 11:24-25 (thematic): Contrasts stinginess and generosity and affirms that the generous person will prosper; parallels Deut’s assurance that God will bless the giver in all endeavours.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (allusion): Paul’s teaching that one should give cheerfully (not grudgingly) and that God supplies and multiplies so believers can abound in good works echoes Deut 15:10’s command not to be reluctant in giving and the promise that Yahweh will bless the giver’s work.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall surely give to him; do not let your heart be grieved when you give to him, for because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
- You shall surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him; for because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
Deu.15.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- יחדל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אביון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מקרב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- מצוך: VERB,piel,part,1,sg,obj:2,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תפתח: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- לאחיך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,m,sg
- לעניך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff
- ולאבינך: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suff
- בארצך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,2,m
Parallels
- Deut.15.7 (verbal): Same chapter/command: both verses instruct Israelites to open their hand to the poor and not harden their heart—very close verbal and legal parallel.
- Leviticus 25:35 (thematic): Commands community support for a needy brother who has become poor, similar social-welfare concern and obligation to assist fellow Israelites.
- Isaiah 58:6-7 (thematic): Prophetic critique linking true religion to practical care for the poor—sharing bread, sheltering the homeless—echoing Deuteronomy’s call to open the hand to the needy.
- Proverbs 19:17 (thematic): Wisdom principle that generosity to the poor is morally required and rewarded, thematically aligned with Deut.15’s insistence on giving to the needy.
- Matt.26:11 (quotation): Jesus’ saying “you always have the poor with you” echoes Deut.15:11; he cites the persistent existence of poverty as part of a moral/theological discussion about care for the poor.
Alternative generated candidates
- For there will never cease to be poor in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘Open your hand wide to your brother, to the poor and the needy in your land.’
- For there will never cease to be poor in the land; therefore I command you, 'Open your hand wide to your brother—to the needy and to the poor in your land.'
At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. And this is the matter of the release: every creditor shall release what he has loaned his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor or of his brother, for it is called a release to the LORD.
You may exact it from the foreigner, but what is yours you shall release to your brother.
There shall be no needy among you; for the LORD will surely bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess.
Only give heed and listen to the voice of the LORD your God, that you may observe to do all this commandment that I command you today.
For the LORD your God will bless you, as he has promised you, and you shall lend to many nations and you shall not borrow; you shall rule over many nations, and they shall not rule over you.
If there is a needy man among you, one of your brothers, within any of your towns in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your needy brother. But you shall surely open your hand to him and shall lend him sufficient for his need—what he lacks.
Beware lest there be a base thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is near,’ and your eye be evil toward your needy brother and you give him nothing; then he may cry to the LORD against you, and it shall be sin in you.
You shall give to him; and do not let your heart be grieved when you give to him, for on account of this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
For there will never cease to be needy in the land; therefore I command you, ‘Open your hand wide to your brother, to the poor and to the needy in your land.’