You asked

what did 'lending' to a poor person mean in a society without banks or credit scores?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

“If there is with you a poor man, any of your brothers, 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; but you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wants. Beware that there not be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand”; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to Yahweh against you, and it be sin to you. You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because for this thing Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to. For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you, saying, “You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.””

Deuteronomy is presented as Moses' farewell speeches to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, just before they enter the promised land. This section focuses on social and economic laws designed to create a just society, often reiterating and expanding upon earlier laws given in Exodus and Leviticus.

What does this passage reveal about the purpose of wealth and economic interaction in a community?

Then — the setting

This passage is set in the ancient Near East, likely around the 7th-5th century BCE in its final form, though reflecting much older traditions. The society was agrarian, with wealth primarily in land, livestock, and produce. Without banks or a widespread monetary economy, 'lending' often involved grain, animals, or tools, crucial for survival or planting the next crop. A 'loan' to a poor person wasn't typically for investment but for subsistence or to prevent ruin. The concept of the 'sabbatical year' (every seventh year) was a unique socio-economic feature, intended to reset debts and redistribute resources, ensuring that cycles of poverty didn't become permanent. The laws were directed to the entire Israelite community, emphasizing mutual responsibility within the covenant.

Across the Testaments

The Old Testament, particularly the Law and Prophets, consistently champions the cause of the poor and vulnerable, often framing their care as a measure of a society's righteousness and faithfulness to God. Lending without interest to the poor (Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:35-37) is a recurring theme. The New Testament affirms this concern, with Jesus identifying with the poor (Matthew 25:35-40) and commending generosity (Luke 6:34-35). While not establishing a specific banking system, New Testament writers emphasize that believers should care for the needy within their community, often through sharing resources (Acts 2:44-45, James 2:15-16), seeing it as a natural outflow of faith and love.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Exodus 22:25-27
Another early law prohibiting interest on loans to the poor and requiring the return of pledged garments by nightfall.
Leviticus 25:35-37
This passage also prohibits interest when lending to a fellow Israelite who has become poor.
Proverbs 28:27
A wisdom saying that echoes the sentiment, stating that giving to the poor brings no want.

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