Deuteronomy 15:4, commentary and pictures

The verse promises that careful obedience to the Lord's commandments would bring such blessing in the land given as an inheritance to possess that there need be no poor among the people. That promise stands joined to the command to release a fellow Israelite's debt every seventh year, making freedom from poverty the fruit of heeding that instruction. The blessing pledged includes lending to many nations without needing to borrow and ruling over many nations without being ruled over by them.

The promise did not mean poverty would vanish altogether, for the poor would continue among the people to give opportunity to practice sympathy, tenderness, and benevolence. Yet when the divine instructions were followed, misfortune did not leave anyone begging or without food. Protection for the poor was built into the division of Canaan among the people, which prevented anyone from gathering up land at the expense of others. If poverty forced a sale, the land could be redeemed by its owner or by a relative, and it would return to its original family in the jubilee year, giving the poor and unfortunate an equal chance to regain home and estate.

The verse therefore calls for mercy, compassion, and tenderness toward a brother who cannot pay what he owes for land, rather than pressing the debt without regard for his hardship.