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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Interest And Usury

Early Christian teaching strongly rejects charging interest on loans to the poor or to fellow believers. Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Lactantius, and the Apostolic Constitutions all repeat the biblical ban and treat it as part of Christian conduct, not just old Jewish law. The main pattern is broad and consistent: Christians should lend in mercy, not use need as a way to make profit. The Bible passages tied to this teaching are especially strong in Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Ezekiel, and Luke.

A few later references use usury in passing or as a metaphor, but they do not change the main early Christian view.

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Early Christian Beliefs About Interest And Usury

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1 Exodus 22:25 2 Leviticus 25:37 3 Leviticus 25:36 4 Luke 6:34 5 Deuteronomy 23:19 6 Deuteronomy 23:20 7 Ezekiel 18:13 8 Ezekiel 18:8 9 Proverbs 28:8 10 Nehemiah 5:10

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11 references

Foundation Texts

Exodus 22:25 primary

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

Direct law against usury with the poor.

Leviticus 25:37

Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.

Short direct ban on lending for profit.

Leviticus 25:36

Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

Directly forbids taking interest from a brother.

Luke 6:34

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

Direct Gospel line on lending without expecting return.

Supporting Passages

Deuteronomy 23:19

Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

General ban on usury to a brother.

Deuteronomy 23:20

Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Allows usury to a stranger but not to a brother.

Ezekiel 18:13

Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

Says giving forth on usury leads to death.

Ezekiel 18:8

He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

Describes the righteous man as not taking increase.

Proverbs 28:8

He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Nehemiah 5:10

I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Deuteronomy 15:8

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Practical command to lend freely to need.