The following scriptures demonstrates that God regulates financial systems within a society.
(Deu 23:19) Thou shalt not lend upon usury [H5391] to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:
(Deu 23:20) Unto a stranger ;H5237} thou mayest lend upon usury [H5391] ; 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.
(Ecc 10:8) He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite [H5391] him.
H5391
na^shak
naw-shak’
A primitive root; to strike with a sting (as a serpent); figuratively, to oppress with interest on a loan: – bite, lend upon usury.
Consider the following modern day definition of usury:
Google Search Oxford Learners Dictionaries:
the illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest.
Webster-Merriam-Webster Dictionary
1
: the lending of money with an interest charge for its use
especially : the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates
2
: an unconscionable or exorbovitant rate or amount of interest
specifically : interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for the use of money
3
archaic : interest
From the above we can see there is nothing unbiblical about charging interest but it is unbiblical to charge excessive interest that brings harm to an individual.
We can see that the Hebrew word for usury is the same Hebrew word for biting that cause harm to a person such as when a poisonous snake bites someone.
One should observe that in Deuteronomy 23:20 the word stranger does not refer to a non-Israelite who resides permanently with Israel for such a non-Israelite would be consider their brethren. The Hebrew word there (H5237) is mostly if not always used to refer to one who is not sojourning or who had not joined themselves permanently among Israel such as an alien. For those who join with Israel to reside permanently become fellow citizens (Leviticus 25:35-37).
Other Related Scriptures:
Leviticus 25:35-37
Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 15:3; Psalm 15:5; Nehemiah 5:2; Luke 6:34.
