Interest … or increase: these ideas are very difficult to express in those cultures where such practices are unknown or uncommon. In the first case, according to some scholars, the interest is paid regularly and then the original loan is paid in a lump sum at the end of the period. In the second case these same scholars maintain that there is no regular payment of interest in the intervening period, but a larger amount than borrowed must be paid in the end. Exodus 22.25 deals only with the first type, and some commentators suggest that the Leviticus rule was designed to block a loophole that moneylenders had found. As to the actual translation of the meaning of these two words, one may propose a restructuring that includes both cases: “Do not make him pay back more than he (originally) borrowed….” Another possibility in some languages may be “do not make him pay rent on money borrowed or pay back more than he borrowed.” It should be noted, however, that there is the distinct possibility that these two terms are virtually synonymous and may be translated by a single term.

Fear your God: see 19.14. But here the idea of obedience is involved. When one stands in awe of God and respects him, the result is obedience.

Your brother: see verses 25 and 35.

Beside you: the same word translated “with you” but meaning “among you” at the end of verse 35.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .