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Deuteronomy 15:6

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For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.

For the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} blesseth {H1288} thee, as he promised {H1696} thee: and thou shalt lend {H5670} unto many {H7227} nations {H1471}, but thou shalt not borrow {H5670}; and thou shalt reign {H4910} over many {H7227} nations {H1471}, but they shall not reign {H4910} over thee.

Yes, ADONAI your God will bless you, as he promised you - you will lend money to many nations without having to borrow, and you will rule over many nations without their ruling over you.

When the LORD your God blesses you as He has promised, you will lend to many nations but borrow from none; you will rule over many nations but be ruled by none.

For Jehovah thy God will bless thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:6 outlines a profound promise of divine blessing and national preeminence for ancient Israel, contingent upon their obedience to God's commandments. This verse paints a picture of a flourishing nation, economically and politically superior to its neighbors, as a direct result of the Lord's faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Context

This verse is situated within a section of Deuteronomy (chapters 14-16) that details various laws and statutes, particularly those concerning the Year of Release (Sabbatical year) and the treatment of the poor and needy among the Israelites. The preceding verses in chapter 15 emphasize the importance of cancelling debts for fellow Israelites every seven years and ensuring no one is poor among them. Verse 6 serves as a powerful motivation and assurance: if Israel obeys these laws, especially those demonstrating compassion and justice, God will fulfill His promises of prosperity and dominance. It underscores the reciprocal relationship between Israel's obedience and God's abundant provision.

Key Themes

  • Divine Blessing and Promise Fulfilment: The verse begins by affirming that the LORD will bless Israel "as he promised thee." This refers to the foundational covenant promises made to the patriarchs, such as Abraham, concerning their multiplication, prosperity, and status as a blessed nation. God's character is portrayed as faithful to His word.
  • Economic Preeminence: The statement, "thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow," signifies a position of significant economic strength and influence. In the ancient Near East, lending was a sign of wealth and power, while borrowing often indicated dependence and vulnerability. This promise suggests Israel would be a creditor, not a debtor, among the nations.
  • Political Sovereignty: Similarly, "thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee," speaks to Israel's destined political dominance and independence. This is a promise of national security and authority, where Israel would be a leading power, free from foreign subjugation. This theme is powerfully echoed in Deuteronomy 28:12-13, which links such blessings directly to diligent obedience.
  • Conditional Prosperity: While a promise, it's implicitly conditional on Israel's faithfulness to the covenant. The blessings flow from God's character but are realized through the people's obedience. Disobedience, as warned elsewhere in Deuteronomy, would lead to the reversal of these roles, where Israel would borrow and be subjugated (Deuteronomy 28:44).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "blesseth" (barakh) carries the sense of divine favor, bestowing prosperity and abundance. The contrast between "lend" (lavah) and "borrow" (also lavah, indicating the same root but different direction of action) highlights the complete reversal of roles, emphasizing Israel's privileged position. Similarly, "reign" (mashal) denotes exercising dominion and authority, underscoring the promised national sovereignty.

Practical Application

For believers today, Deuteronomy 15:6 offers several enduring principles:

  • God's Desire to Bless: It reminds us that God delights in blessing His people when they walk in obedience and faithfulness. While the specific national promises were for ancient Israel, the principle of God's provision for those who honor Him remains.
  • Stewardship and Generosity: The emphasis on lending rather than borrowing can be seen as a spiritual principle of being a source of blessing and provision to others, rather than always being in need. Christians are called to be generous and to manage resources wisely, enabling them to give and support others.
  • Spiritual Influence: Just as Israel was to be a beacon among nations, believers are called to be salt and light in the world, influencing culture and society positively rather than being conformed to it (Romans 12:2). This is a spiritual "reigning" through godly character and actions.
  • The Importance of Obedience: The verse powerfully underscores that divine favor and blessing are often tied to our obedience to God's commands and principles, including those pertaining to justice, compassion, and financial integrity.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:12 (10 votes)

    The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

  • Deuteronomy 28:13 (10 votes)

    And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them]:

  • Luke 6:35 (7 votes)

    But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.

  • 1 Kings 4:21 (6 votes)

    And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

  • Proverbs 22:7 (6 votes)

    ¶ The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.

  • Ezra 4:20 (5 votes)

    There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all [countries] beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.

  • Psalms 37:21 (5 votes)

    ¶ The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.