Deuteronomy 15:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Do not harden your heart or refuse help to a poor brother.
The Context of Deuteronomy 15:7
Command against hardening the heart toward the poor.
What Does Deuteronomy 15:7 Mean?
The law shifts from collective practice to individual heart condition. Even though Israel had been promised prosperity, poor people would exist among them. When they did, each person was commanded not to close their heart or hand. Hardening the heart—refusing compassion—was itself a sin.
'Thy poor brother' emphasizes kinship and obligation. The poor were not strangers or threats but members of the family God had gathered. To ignore them was to ignore God's own instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 15:7
What does Deuteronomy 15:7 mean?
Do not harden your heart or refuse help to a poor brother.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 15:7?
Command against hardening the heart toward the poor.