The closing command is based on the fact that there would always be Israelites in need of help.

The poor will never cease out of the land: that is, “There will always be some Israelites who are poor or in need” (Good News Translation; similarly Contemporary English Version). This is simply a statement of fact, not an expression of God’s will for his people. Jesus has this verse in mind as he rebukes his disciples (John 12.8).

You shall open wide your hand: another use of the compound form for emphasis (see verse 8 for the figure of an open hand).

To the needy and to the poor: these two phrases modify to your brother. They may mean exactly the same, or they may indicate temporary and permanent impoverishment. An alternative translation model may be “to those who have few possessions and need help.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .