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Deuteronomy 24:12

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 24:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge;
Deuteronomy 24:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Remember what Jehovah thy God did unto Miriam, by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt.
10When thou dost lend thy neighbor any manner of loan, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.
11Thou shalt stand without, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring forth the pledge without unto thee.
12And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge;
13thou shalt surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before Jehovah thy God.
14Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy sojourners that are in thy land within thy gates:
15in his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto Jehovah, and it be sin unto thee.
← Deuteronomy 24:11Deuteronomy 24:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if the man [be] poor, etc.] Which may be thought to be the case of everyone that gives pledges for a debt he owes, or a sum of money he borrows; yet there might be a difference: some might be so very destitute of goods and raiment in their houses, that whatever they parted with was distressing to them, and they could not well do without it: thou shalt not sleep with his pledge; nor keep it a night; but deliver it to him, before he went to bed, and laid himself down to sleep.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Exodus 22:25-27. Deuteronomy 24:13 Righteousness unto thee - Compare Deuteronomy 6:25 note. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou shalt not sleep - But restore it before night, which intimates that he should take no such thing for pledge, without which a man cannot sleep. Deuteronomy 24:13”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Deu 24:17; Job 22:6, Job 24:3, Job 24:9 Deuteronomy 24:13”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“And if the man was in distress (עני), the lender was not to lie (sleep) upon his pledge, since the poor man had very often nothing but his upper garment, in which he slept, to give as a pledge. This was to be returned to him in the evening. (A repetition of Exo 22:25-26.) On the expression, "It shall be righteousness unto thee," see Deu 6:25. Deuteronomy 24:14”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 24 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification