King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 24:10 Mean?

Deuteronomy 24:10 in the King James Version says “When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. lend: Heb. lend the loa...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 24 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. lend: Heb. lend the loan of any thing to, etc”

Deuteronomy 24:10 · KJV

Context

8

Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.

9

Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

10

When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. lend: Heb. lend the loan of any thing to, etc

11

Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.

12

And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. This law protects debtor dignity by preventing creditors from entering homes to seize collateral. The creditor must wait outside while the debtor brings the pledge, preserving privacy and preventing humiliation.

The prohibition thou shalt not go into his house establishes boundaries that economic relationships must not cross. Even legitimate debt collection must respect personal space and dignity. Creditors' rights do not extend to violating debtors' homes.

This demonstrates that economic justice includes procedural protections, not just substantive fairness. How debts are collected matters as much as whether they are collected. Preserving human dignity in economic transactions reflects God's concern for the whole person.

Reformed theology affirms that all relationships, including economic ones, must honor human dignity as image-bearers. No economic advantage justifies treating people degradingly.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient creditors often seized collateral forcibly, humiliating debtors and asserting dominance. This law prevented such displays of power, requiring respect even in asymmetrical economic relationships.

The principle protected the poor from degradation while still permitting legitimate debt collection and collateral security.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does prohibition against entering the debtor's house teach about dignity in economic relationships?
  2. How do procedural protections demonstrate that how we collect debts matters?
  3. Why must economic relationships respect personal boundaries and privacy?
  4. What does this teach about balancing creditor rights with debtor dignity?
  5. How might contemporary debt collection practices violate or uphold these principles?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
כִּֽי1 of 11
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

תַשֶּׁ֥ה2 of 11

“When thou dost lend”

H5383

to lend or (by reciprocity) borrow on security or interest

בְרֵֽעֲךָ3 of 11

“thy brother”

H7453

an associate (more or less close)

מַשַּׁ֣את4 of 11

“thing”

H4859

a loan

מְא֑וּמָה5 of 11

“any”

H3972

properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing

לֹֽא6 of 11
H3808

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

תָבֹ֥א7 of 11

“thou shalt not go”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל8 of 11
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בֵּית֖וֹ9 of 11

“into his house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

לַֽעֲבֹ֥ט10 of 11

“to fetch”

H5670

to pawn; causatively, to lend (on security); figuratively, to entangle

עֲבֹטֽוֹ׃11 of 11

“his pledge”

H5667

a pawn

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 24:10 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 24:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 15:8Exodus 22:27

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