Deuteronomy 15

“At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I…” Naming Only keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, lend, need. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and…” Naming Beware keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:” The line’s distinctive content terms include empty, free, sendest. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt…” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.” Naming Only keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.