Exodus 22 Interest-ing Laws

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Dec 8, 2025 · 2m

“If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, do not act toward them as a creditor; exact no interest from them.” (Verse 24)

אִם־כֶּ֣סֶף תַּלְוֶ֗ה אֶת־עַמִּי֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָנִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹא־תִהְיֶ֥ה ל֖וֹ כְּנֹשֶׁ֑ה לֹ֥א תְשִׂ֖ימוּן עָלָ֥יו נֶֽשֶׁךְ׃ (שמות כב:כד)

This verse provides a good example of the various laws that can be derived from a single verse. The Gemara in Bava Metzia gleans the following:

1. The fact that the verse says “My people” means that if a Jew and non-Jew come to you to borrow, you should lend to the Jewish person first.

2. The phrase “to the poor among you”…