King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 15:9 Mean?

Deuteronomy 15:9 in the King James Version says “Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and t... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. thought: Heb. word wicked: Heb. Belial

Deuteronomy 15:9 · KJV


Context

7

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:

8

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

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. thought: Heb. word wicked: Heb. Belial

10

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

11

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. The warning hishamer lekha (beware/take heed) addresses internal motivation, not merely external action. A davar-beliya'al (base/worthless thought) entertained in the levav (heart) constitutes sin even before manifesting in refusal to lend.

The ayin ra'ah (evil eye) is a Hebrew idiom for stinginess and ill will (cf. Proverbs 23:6; 28:22; Matthew 6:23). Calculating when to withhold charity based on the approaching Sabbatical year reveals heart-level greed and covenant-breaking. The phrase qara aleikha el-YHWH (he cry unto the LORD against you) echoes Exodus 22:23-24—God hears the oppressed and judges their oppressors. What begins as internal calculation becomes external sin when acted upon, incurring guilt (hayah bekha khet—'it will be sin unto you').

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Sabbatical year debt release (Deuteronomy 15:1-3) created perverse incentives—lenders might refuse loans near the seventh year, knowing repayment would be cancelled. The Pharisees later instituted the prozbul (legal fiction allowing debt collection despite Sabbatical year) to circumvent this economic disincentive, showing how legalism tries to evade costly obedience. Jesus condemned similar heart-level greed in the Pharisees (Mark 7:20-23; Luke 11:39-41), demonstrating that God judges internal attitudes, not merely external compliance.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'base thoughts' do you harbor that calculate the cost of obedience rather than trust God's provision?
  2. How might the cries of those you've failed to help rise up as testimony against you before God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר1 of 28

Beware

H8104

properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc

לְךָ֡2 of 28
H0
פֶּן3 of 28
H6435

properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest

יִֽהְיֶ֣ה4 of 28
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

דָבָר֩5 of 28

that there be not a thought

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

עִם6 of 28
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

לְבָֽבְךָ֙7 of 28

heart

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

בְלִיַּ֜עַל8 of 28

in thy wicked

H1100

without profit, worthlessness; by extension, destruction, wickedness

לֵאמֹ֗ר9 of 28

saying

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

קָֽרְבָ֣ה10 of 28

is at hand

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

שְׁנַ֣ת11 of 28

the year

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הַשֶּׁבַע֮12 of 28

The seventh

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

שְׁנַ֣ת13 of 28

the year

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הַשְּׁמִטָּה֒14 of 28

of release

H8059

remission (of debt) or suspension of labor)

וְרָעָ֣ה15 of 28

be evil

H7489

properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)

עֵֽינְךָ֗16 of 28

and thine eye

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

בְּאָחִ֙יךָ֙17 of 28

brother

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

הָֽאֶבְי֔וֹן18 of 28

against thy poor

H34

destitute

וְלֹ֥א19 of 28
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תִתֵּ֖ן20 of 28

and thou givest

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

ל֑וֹ21 of 28
H0
וְקָרָ֤א22 of 28

him nought and he cry

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

עָלֶ֙יךָ֙23 of 28
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֶל24 of 28
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֔ה25 of 28

unto the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְהָיָ֥ה26 of 28
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בְךָ֖27 of 28
H0
חֵֽטְא׃28 of 28

against thee and it be sin

H2399

a crime or its penalty


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 15:9 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 15:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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