Deuteronomy 15:7If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
The setting
Plains of Moab, Jordan River valley, ~1400 BC. Moses teaching economic justice before entering Canaan, modern-day Israel/Palestine...
The emotion here: passionately concerned about social justice
The original word
qaphats (קָפַץ) — to shut tight like a fist, the opposite of an open hand
Why it matters
Ancient Hebrew law required debt forgiveness every seven years, unprecedented in the ancient world
Read with care
What most readers miss in Deuteronomy 15:7
'Your brother' meant fellow Israelites specifically, but Jesus later expanded this to everyone
Common misconceptionPeople think this only applies to 'deserving' poor or that wisdom means always saying no. But God commands opening your hand first, then using wisdom about how.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Deuteronomy 15:7
Bible Genome reading
Deuteronomy 15:7 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Deuteronomy 15:7 comes from the book of Deuteronomy, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to Moses. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include compassion, social responsibility. Notable phrases: if a poor man; one of your brothers. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Deuteronomy 15:7 mean to you, today?
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