Deuteronomy 24:6 Meaning and Explanation
“No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Millstones cannot be seized as payment for debt because they are essential to life.
The Context of Deuteronomy 24:6
Restrictions on what may be taken as pledge for debt.
What Does Deuteronomy 24:6 Mean?
The law protects a household's ability to prepare grain for food by forbidding creditors from taking millstones as collateral. Without a millstone, a family cannot produce bread, making this seizure equivalent to taking away the means of survival itself.
This reflects a principle deeper than contract law: some tools of survival are so fundamental that they cannot be subject to creditor claims, even in legitimate debt situations.
Deuteronomy 24:6 in the Original Language
רֵחַיִם (rechayim), 'millstone'—a pair of heavy circular stones used to grind grain into flour; essential domestic technology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 24:6
What does Deuteronomy 24:6 mean?
Millstones cannot be seized as payment for debt because they are essential to life.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 24:6?
Restrictions on what may be taken as pledge for debt.