Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ContextIn biblical terms, to "lend" refers to the act of giving something, typically money or goods, to another person with the expectation of repayment. Lending is a practice that is addressed in various contexts throughout the Bible, often highlighting principles of generosity, compassion, and justice.
Old Testament ReferencesThe concept of lending is addressed in the Mosaic Law, which provides guidelines for how Israelites should lend to one another. In
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 , it is written: "If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs." This passage emphasizes the importance of generosity and the moral obligation to assist those in need.
The Old Testament also includes instructions regarding interest on loans. In
Exodus 22:25 , it states: "If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest." This prohibition against charging interest to fellow Israelites underscores the principle of compassion and fairness in financial dealings.
New Testament TeachingsIn the New Testament, Jesus expands on the principles of lending in the context of love and mercy. In
Luke 6:34-35 , Jesus teaches: "And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." Here, Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard of generosity, one that reflects the character of God Himself.
Principles of LendingThe biblical approach to lending is rooted in several key principles:
1.
Generosity and Compassion: Lending should be an act of kindness and support, especially towards those in need. The Bible encourages believers to be open-handed and willing to help others without expecting anything in return.
2.
Justice and Fairness: The prohibition against charging interest to fellow Israelites highlights the importance of fairness in lending practices. This principle is intended to prevent exploitation and ensure that lending serves as a means of support rather than oppression.
3.
Love and Mercy: Jesus' teachings in the New Testament elevate the act of lending to an expression of love and mercy, encouraging believers to lend even to those who may not repay, reflecting God's grace and kindness.
ConclusionThe biblical perspective on lending is deeply intertwined with the values of generosity, justice, and love. It challenges believers to approach lending not merely as a financial transaction but as an opportunity to demonstrate God's character and to serve others selflessly.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the return of the same; to grant the temporary use of; as, to lend a book; -- opposed to borrow.
2. (v. t.) To allow the possession and use of, on condition of the return of an equivalent in kind; as, to lend money or some article of food.
3. (v. t.) To afford; to grant or furnish in general; as, to lend assistance; to lend one's name or influence.
4. (v. t.) To let for hire or compensation; as, to lend a horse or gig.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LEND, LOANlon: The translation of 7 Hebrew and 2 Greek vbs.:
1. Lexical Usages:
In the Old Testament: lawah, "to join," "cause to join," "lend" (Exodus 22:25Deuteronomy 28:12, 44Psalm 37:26Proverbs 19:17); nashah, "to bite," "lend" (Deuteronomy 24:11Jeremiah 15:10); nashah (same root as last, though different verb stem, Hiphil), "to cause to bite," "lend on usury" (Deuteronomy 15:2;Deuteronomy 24:10); nashakh, "to bite," "lend" "(cause to lend) on usury" (Deuteronomy 23:19, 20); nathan, "to give" (Leviticus 25:37, the Revised Version (British and American) "to give"); `abhat (Hiphil), "to cause to borrow," "to lend" (Deuteronomy 15:6, 8); sha'al (Hiphil), "to cause to ask," "to lend" (Exodus 12:36, the Revised Version (British and American) "ask";1 Samuel 1:27). In Septuagint daneizo, danizo, "to lend," translates lawah, and `abaT in above passages and inNehemiah 5:4Proverbs 22:7, andIsaiah 24:2; kichrao, also translations lawah and sha'al (Psalm 112:5Proverbs 13:11); daneion(-ion), "loan," occurs inDeuteronomy 15:8, 10;Deuteronomy 24:11;Deuteronomy 4 Maccabees 2:8. In the New Testament "lend" translations two Greek verbs, daneizo, "to lend money" (Luke 6:34, 35, usually in commercial sense); kichremi, "to lend (as a friendly act)" (Luke 11:5).The substantive "loan," she'elah, occurs only once in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 2:20 the King James Version and the English Revised Version), not at all in the New Testament.
2. History of Lending in the Bible and Apocrypha:
(1) Lending on interest to the poor is prohibited in the code inExodus 22:25. (2) In the code inDeuteronomy 15:1-6;Deuteronomy 23:19, 20; 24:10, 11; 28:12, 44, borrowing and lending are taken for granted as existing in Israel, but the creditor is required to release his Hebrew brother as debtor in the 7th year (either the cancellation of the loan (so in Jewish literature and early Christian scholars) or suspension of payment that year (so most modern scholars)), though he may exact payment from a foreigner. Israel may lend, and will be able to lend, because of Yahweh's blessing, to other nations, but must not borrow from them. A pledge, or security, must not be taken in person by the creditor from the house of the debtor, nor kept overnight, if the debtor be poor. (3) The code inLeviticus 25:35-38 requires that the Israelite receive no interest from his poor brother, because of the goodness of Yahweh to Israel. (4) Notwithstanding the prohibition of the early laws against lending on interest or usury, the same seems to have become common in Israel before the exile (Isaiah 24:2Jeremiah 15:10), was practiced on the return, and was an evil to be corrected by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 5:7, 10). (5) According toPsalm 37:26;Psalm 112:5Proverbs 19:17, lending to the needy was regarded as a mark of the pious Hebrew, but no interest is to be charged. (6) According to Apocrypha (The Wisdom of Solomon 15:16; Sirach 8:12; 18:33; 20:15, 29; 4 Maccabees 2:8), borrowing is discouraged, and lending is exalted as a mark of the merciful man. (7) Jesus teaches that His followers should lend, even to enemies, to men from whom they have no reasonable hope of expecting anything in return, because thus to do is to be like the Most High (Luke 6:34, 35). He did not discuss lending for commercial purposes, and so does not necessarily forbid it.
LITERATURE.
See Driver onDeuteronomy 15:1-6; Benzinger, Hebrew Archaeology, (1894), 350 f; Oehler, Old Testament Theology, 150, 10; Plummer onLuke 6:34, 35.
Charles B. Williams
Greek
5531. chrao -- tolend... to
lend. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: chrao or kichremi Phonetic Spelling:
(khrah'-o) Short Definition: I
lend Definition: I
lend.
...1155. danizo -- tolend, borrow
... tolend, borrow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: danizo Phonetic Spelling:
(dan-ide'-zo) Short Definition: Ilend, borrow Definition: Ilend; mid: I borrow...
1223. dia -- through, on account of, because of
... thoroughly"). 1223 () is also commonly used as a andlend the same idea
("thoroughly," literally, "successfully" ). [1223 () is...
4878. sunantilambanomai -- to take hold with at the side, hence to...
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunantilambanomai Phonetic Spelling: (soon-an-tee-
lam-ban'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I assist, help Definition: Ilend a hand...
Strong's Hebrew
5383. nashah -- tolend, become a creditor... 5382, 5383. nashah. 5384 . to
lend, become a creditor. Transliteration: nashah
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-shaw') Short Definition: creditor. Word Origin a prim
...5377. nasha -- tolend on interest, be a creditor
... 5376, 5377. nasha. 5378 . tolend on interest, be a creditor. Transliteration:
nasha Phonetic Spelling: (naw-shaw') Short Definition: made. Word Origin a prim...
5789. ush -- tolend aid, come to help
... 5788b, 5789. ush. 5790 . tolend aid, come to help. Transliteration: ush Phonetic
Spelling: (oosh) Short Definition: hasten. Word Origin a prim....
5670. abat -- to take or give a pledge
... Word Origin denominative verb from abot Definition to take or give a pledge NASB
Word Usage borrow (1), deviate (1), generouslylend (1),lend (1), take (1)....
5391. nashak -- to bite
... bite,lend upon usury A primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent);
figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan -- bite,lend upon usury....
3867. lavah -- to join, be joined
... A primitive root; properly, to twine, ie (by implication) to unite, to remain; also
to borrow (as a form of obligation) or (caus.) Tolend -- abide with, borrow...
3867b. lavah -- to borrow
... 3867a, 3867b. lavah. 3868 . to borrow. Transliteration: lavah Short
Definition:lend. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to borrow...
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... injures* (1), inserted (1), instilled (4), issued (5), kept giving (1), laid (5),
lay (12), laying (1), lays (1), left (2), left hanging (1),lend (1), lends (1...
3449. Yishshiyyah -- the name of several Israelites
... Or Yishshiyahuw {yish-shee-yaw'-hoo}; from nashah and Yahh; Jah willlend; Jishshijah,
the name of five Israelites -- Ishiah, Isshiah, Ishijah, Jesiah....
7592. shaal -- to ask, inquire
... extension, to demand -- ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult,
demand, desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave,lend, pray, request...
Library
They who are of the Sacerdotal Order Ought not toLend and Receive...
... The Canons of the Blessed and Holy Fathers Assembled at Antioch in Syria. Canon
IV. They who are of the sacerdotal order ought not tolend and receive usury?...
Whether it is a Sin to Take Usury for Money Lent?
... of the Law, according to Dt.28:12: "Thou shalt fenerate* to many nations, and shalt
not borrow of any one." [*'Faeneraberis'"-'Thou shaltlend upon usury...
Celsus Adds: "Will they not Besides Make this Reflection? if the...
... 4706] If Celsus had read the writings of Moses, he would, I daresay, have supposed
that when it is said to him who kept the law, "Thou shaltlend unto many...
Psalm CXXIX.
... wisdom. [5556] ... 6.Lend not money at interest. Thou accusest... He replieth:
let not the clergylend upon usury. Perchance he who...
Ye have Heard Also that it was Said unto the Ancients...
... superiority? for sinners also do likewise. [708] And if yelend to him of whom
ye hope for a reward, [709] where is your superiority? for...
A Rebuke against Extortion
... God had also instructed through Moses: "If thoulend money to any of My people that
is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer." "Thou shalt no...
Reformation Hymnody
... And birds are with song awaking. Lord,lend us Thy counsel and speed our days,.
The... somber. Lord,lend us Thy counsel and speed our days,....
The Righteousness of the Kingdom.
... for even sinners do the same. And if yelend to them of whom ye hope to receive,
what thank have ye? even sinnerslend to sinners, to receive again as much....
Of the Navigation of King Agrippa to Rome, to Tiberius Caesar; and...
... So Marsyas desired of Peter, who was the freed-man of Bernice, Agrippa's mother,
and by the right of her testament was bequeathed to Antonia, tolend so much...
On the Third Part of the Psalm.
... Again, on the other hand, I myself, nay rather our God Himself bids thee be an usurer,
and says to thee, "Lend unto God." If thou lendest to man, hast thou hope...
Thesaurus
Lend (21 Occurrences)... 1. (vt) To allow the custody and use of, on condition of the return of the same;
to grant the temporary use of; as, to
lend a book; -- opposed to borrow.
...Loan (9 Occurrences)
... a sum of money lent at interest; as, he repaid the loan. 4. (nt) Tolend; --
sometimes with out. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.LEND, LOAN....
Usury (17 Occurrences)
... Hebrews were tolend to their brethren without interest (Exodus 22:25 Leviticus
25:36 Deuteronomy 23:19 f). This, however, did not apply to a stranger...
Interest (35 Occurrences)
... 36, 37). Deuteronomy permits them tolend on interest to a foreigner
(Deuteronomy 23:19, 20), but not to a brother Israelite. That...
Lent (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) ofLend. 2. (v.) imp. & pp ofLend.
3. (n.) A fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday...
Repayment (6 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Luke 6:34 If youlend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit
is that to you? Even sinnerslend to sinners, to receive back as much....
Expecting (22 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Luke 6:34 If youlend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit
is that to you? Even sinnerslend to sinners, to receive back as much....
Borrow (10 Occurrences)
... To receive from another as a loan, with the implied or expressed intention of returning
the identical article or its equivalent in kind; -- the opposite oflend...
Countrymen (60 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 23:19 You shall notlend on interest to your brother; interest of money,
interest of food, interest of anything that is lent on interest: (See NAS)....
Pledge (55 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 15:6 For Jehovah thy God will bless thee, as he promised thee; and thou
shaltlend on pledge to many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou...
Resources
What does the Bible say about lending money? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that you are the head and not the tail in Deuteronomy 28:13? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian use a credit card? | GotQuestions.orgLend: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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