What Does the Bible Say About Charging Interest?
Bible Verses & Devotional
What Does the Bible Say About Charging Interest?
Many Christians searching what does the bible say about charging interest want more than a technical answer—they want to know how God calls His people to treat others financially. In Scripture, the focus is not merely on paperwork or rates, but on the heart behind lending: justice, compassion, and integrity. Deuteronomy links lending practices with how God blesses what we set our hand to do, while Psalms describes a righteous person who refuses usury that harms the innocent. Nehemiah records a community confronting abusive financial treatment, restoring what was taken, and pledging to stop exacting usury. Together, these passages show that God cares deeply about whether financial gain comes at another person’s expense, and they invite believers to lend in ways that reflect mercy and restraint—especially toward those who are already vulnerable.
At a Glance — Verses in This Article
- Deuteronomy 23:19-20
- Nehemiah 5:7-13
- Psalms 15:5
Bible Verses
Deuteronomy 23:19-20 (King James Version)
“Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.”
This passage directly forbids lending on usury to a brother, while distinguishing how God’s people should treat one another financially.
Nehemiah 5:7-13 (King James Version)
“Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them. Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.”
Nehemiah addresses leaders who exact usury and leads them to stop, restore property, and return what they had taken.
Psalms 15:5 (King James Version)
“He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.”
Psalms portrays the righteous person as someone who does not use money for usury or take reward against the innocent.
Usury and the heart of lending
When people ask what does the bible say about charging interest, they often discover the Bible’s discussion centers on usury—profiting from lending in a way that exploits need. Deuteronomy 23:19-20 frames the issue as a moral command: “Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother.” The underlying principle is protection of a fellow believer from financial pressure that can crush stability.
Psalms 15:5 adds spiritual clarity by describing the person who is truly righteous: “He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.” The Psalm highlights two risks: using money to gain unfair advantage, and taking compensation in ways that harm those who are vulnerable. In other words, the Bible’s concern is not only the transaction but whether it resists injustice.
Then Nehemiah 5 shows what repentance and obedience look like on the ground. Leaders were exacting usury “every one of his brother,” and the result was distress among God’s people. Nehemiah’s response is strong and pastoral at the same time: he rebukes, calls the community to fear God, and demands restoration. This connects the dots: Scripture does not treat lending ethics as optional; it treats them as part of covenant faithfulness.
So, rather than imagining the Bible’s teaching as purely legal, these passages reveal a consistent moral thread: lend without exploiting, choose restraint, and protect the neighbor from being consumed by repayment burdens.
Mercy over profit in community
One of the most striking elements across these verses is how lending intersects with community responsibility. In Deuteronomy, God places boundaries around lending practices among “thy brother,” with the explicit result that “the LORD thy God may bless thee.” That phrasing matters: obedience is tied to blessing, while abusive financial methods conflict with God’s intentions for His people.
In Nehemiah 5:7-13, the story becomes even more vivid. Nehemiah identifies a pattern: “Ye exact usury, every one of his brother.” This wasn’t a hypothetical concern; it was real hardship. Nehemiah then calls for a public change—he “set a great assembly” against the practice and insists, “It is not good that ye do.” The solution was not merely to reduce rates; it was to leave off this usury.
Next comes the practical outworking of repentance. Nehemiah urges restoration: return lands, vineyards, oliveyards, houses, and “the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.” The community responds with a promise to require nothing further. The seriousness of the moment is reinforced by the oath and even the symbolic act of shaking the lap, showing that covenant promises were not taken lightly.
From these verses, Christians can learn that godly lending isn’t only about whether one follows a technical rule; it’s about whether one’s financial involvement produces healing or harm. If lending becomes a tool for oppression, Scripture calls believers to stop, make things right, and protect the vulnerable.
This is why biblical guidance on charging interest must be read through the lens of justice and mercy—especially when the other party is already struggling.
Righteousness that avoids harming the innocent
Psalms 15 gives a helpful summary of how God views financial behavior. The righteous person is defined, in part, by what he refuses: “He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.” That statement is not written as a mere economic preference—it describes moral character.
This matters for Christians thinking about interest, because the Bible repeatedly returns to the question: Who is being affected by your financial gain? If the arrangement extracts from people who are weak or unable to recover, it can drift toward the kind of “reward against the innocent” the Psalm warns against.
Additionally, Deuteronomy makes a distinction that pushes believers to think carefully: usury is forbidden toward “thy brother,” while lending “unto a stranger” is addressed differently. While readers may have varying interpretations regarding the application beyond the original context, the consistent moral emphasis remains: God’s people must not weaponize lending against their own.
Nehemiah then demonstrates that the community should not normalize harmful practices. Leaders were confronted, and restoration was required. That pattern suggests that when financial arrangements start to damage neighbors, godly people should respond with conviction and generosity rather than defensiveness.
Ultimately, these verses invite believers to ask searching questions: Would this lending practice leave my neighbor worse off? Does it take advantage of urgency or desperation? Is my goal money-making, or helping another person endure?
A faith shaped by Scripture strives for integrity in lending, refusing arrangements that resemble exploitation, and choosing solutions that honor God’s standards.
How to apply these teachings today
Christians today may not use the word “usury,” but the biblical principles still apply: avoid lending practices that exploit need, refuse profit that harms the innocent, and respond with repentance when wrongdoing is found. Here are concrete ways to live this out.
1) Evaluate your heart and your terms. Before offering a loan, ask whether the structure could pressure someone into crisis. Psalms 15:5 warns against usury and taking reward against the innocent, so compare your expected return with the risk your neighbor carries.
2) Prioritize mercy in brotherly relationships. Deuteronomy 23:19-20 states, “Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother.” If the borrower is a believer or a close neighbor who is already vulnerable, be cautious and seek an arrangement that does not build advantage on their hardship.
3) Be willing to stop and restore. Nehemiah 5:7-13 shows that repentance included returning what was taken and releasing further claims. If you discover a lending practice has harmed someone, don’t just justify it—consider steps toward restitution.
4) Use wisdom and counsel. If you are unsure how to structure lending ethically, seek advice from trusted, biblically grounded Christians and consider options like clear repayment plans, grace periods, or non-interest assistance. The goal is obedience, not domination.
The consistent takeaway is repentance and restraint: lend in a way that aligns with justice and protects people from financial harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biblical guidance on charging interest?
The passages emphasize usury—profit from lending that exploits need. Deuteronomy forbids charging usury to a brother, Psalms describes the righteous person as one who does not practice usury, and Nehemiah shows leaders stopping it and restoring what was taken. The overall direction is mercy and justice.
Is charging interest allowed in the Bible?
The verified Scripture focuses on usury, especially toward “thy brother,” and it condemns practices that harm the innocent. Nehemiah records a clear change: leaders were told to leave off usury and restore what had been exacted. So the Bible’s guidance strongly resists exploitative lending.
What does the Bible say about usury in lending?
Deuteronomy 23:19-20 commands that a brother not be lent upon with usury. Psalms 15:5 praises someone who does not put out money to usury. Nehemiah 5:7-13 shows communal accountability—usury was stopped and restitution was made. Together, these verses treat usury as harmful to righteousness.
Does the Bible permit interest on loans to people outside the faith?
Deuteronomy 23:19-20 addresses lending “unto a stranger” differently than lending “unto thy brother.” However, Psalms 15 still warns against usury and harming the innocent, and Nehemiah shows that God’s people should reject exploitative practices. The safest approach is to ensure lending is fair, non-oppressive, and merciful.
A Short Prayer
Lord, search my heart and teach me to handle finances in a way that honors You. Help me resist any desire to profit from another person’s vulnerability. Give me wisdom to lend with compassion, fairness, and integrity, and help me respond quickly when I realize I have caused harm. May my choices reflect the righteousness described in Your Word, and may I be known for mercy, truth, and peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.