Creditor and Debtor Chapter 4

נֶשֶׁךְ וּמַרְבִּית אֶחָד הוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה לז) "אֶת כַּסְפְּךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לוֹ בְּנֶשֶׁךְ וּבְמַרְבִּית לֹא תִתֵּן אָכְלֶךָ" וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים כג כ) "נֶשֶׁךְ כֶּסֶף נֶשֶׁךְ אֹכֶל נֶשֶׁךְ כָּל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׁךְ". וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ נֶשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא נוֹשֵׁךְ שֶׁמְּצַעֵר אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ וְאוֹכֵל אֶת בְּשָׂרוֹ. וְלָמָּה חִלְּקָן הַכָּתוּב לַעֲבֹר עָלָיו בִּשְׁנֵי לָאוִין:

Neshech and marbit are one in the same, as Leviticus 25:37 states: "Do not give him your money with neshech and do not put forth your food at marbit." And further on, Deuteronomy 23:20 speaks of: "Neshech from money, neshech from food, neshech from any substance that will accrue." Why is interest called neshech? Because it bites. It causes pain to one's colleague and consumes his flesh. Why did the Torah refer to it with two terms? So that one would commit a twofold transgression when violating this prohibition.

כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַלְווֹת כָּךְ אָסוּר לִלְווֹת בְּרִבִּית שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כג כ) "לֹא תַשִּׁיךְ לְאָחִיךָ" מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁזּוֹ אַזְהָרָה לַלּוֶֹה כְּלוֹמַר לֹא תִּנְשֹׁךְ לְאָחִיךְ. וְכֵן אָסוּר לְהִתְעַסֵּק בֵּין לוֶֹה וּמַלְוֶה בְּרִבִּית. וְכָל מִי שֶׁהָיָה עָרֵב אוֹ סוֹפֵר אוֹ עֵד בֵּינֵיהֶן הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹבֵר בְּלֹא תַּעֲשֶׂה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב כד) "לֹא תְשִׂימוּן עָלָיו נֶשֶׁךְ" זוֹ אַזְהָרָה אַף לָעֵדִים וְלָעָרֵב וְלַסּוֹפֵר. הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁהַמַּלְוֶה בְּרִבִּית עוֹבֵר עַל שִׁשָּׁה לָאוִין. (שמות כב כד) "לֹא תִהְיֶה לוֹ כְּנשֶׁה". (ויקרא כה לז) "אֶת כַּסְפְּךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לוֹ בְּנֶשֶׁךְ". (ויקרא כה לז) "וּבְמַרְבִּית לֹא תִתֵּן אָכְלֶךָ". (ויקרא כה לו) "אַל תִּקַּח מֵאִתּוֹ נֶשֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית". לֹא תְשִׂימוּן עָלָיו נֶשֶׁךְ. (ויקרא יט יד) "וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשׁל". וְהַלּוֶֹה עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁנַיִם. לֹא תַשִּׁיךְ לְאָחִיךָ. וְלִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשׁל. עָרֵב וְעֵדִים וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן אֵין עוֹבְרִין אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם לֹא תְשִׂימוּן עָלָיו נֶשֶׁךְ. וְכָל מִי שֶׁהָיָה סַרְסוּר בֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם אוֹ שֶׁסִּיֵּעַ אֶחָד מֵהֶן אוֹ הוֹרָהוּ עוֹבֵר מִשּׁוּם לִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשׁל:

Just as it is forbidden to give a loan at interest; so, too, it is forbidden to borrow at interest, as Deuteronomy, ibid., states: "Do not offer interest to your brother." According to the Oral Tradition, we learned that this is a warning to the borrower. Similarly, it is forbidden to act as a broker between the borrower and the lender when interest is involved. Anyone involved, a guarantor, a scribe or a witness transgresses a negative commandment, as Exodus 22:24 states: "Do not lay interest upon him." This is a warning against the witnesses, the guarantor and the scribe. Thus, we see that a person who offers a loan at interest violates six prohibitions: "Do not act like a creditor toward him," "Do not give him your money with neshech" "Do not put forth your food at marbit" "Do not take neshech and tarbit from him" (Leviticus 25:36 , "Do not lay interest upon him," and "Do not place a stumbling block in front of the blind" (Leviticus 19:14 . A person who borrows at interest violates two prohibitions: "Do not offer interest to your brother." "Do not place a stumbling block in front of the blind" The guarantor, the witnesses and the like violate only the prohibition: "Do not lay interest upon him." Any broker who connects between the lender and the borrower or assists or instructs one of them with regard to making the loan transgresses the commandment: "Do not place a stumbling block in front of the blind"

אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַמַּלְוֶה וְהַלּוֶֹה עוֹבְרִין עַל כָּל אֵלּוּ הַלָּאוִין אֵינָן לוֹקִין עָלָיו מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּתָּן לְהִשָּׁבוֹן. שֶׁכָּל הַמַּלְוֶה בְּרִבִּית אִם הָיְתָה רִבִּית קְצוּצָה שֶׁהִיא אֲסוּרָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה הֲרֵי זוֹ יוֹצְאָה בְּדַיָּנִין וּמוֹצִיאִין אוֹתָהּ מִן הַמַּלְוֶה וּמַחְזִירִין לַלּוֶֹה. וְאִם מֵת הַמַּלְוֶה אֵין מוֹצִיאִין מִיַּד הַבָּנִים:

Although the lender and the borrower violate all the negative commandments mentioned above, they are not punished with lashes, because the interest must be returned. For whenever a person gives a loan at interest, if fixed interest is involved, it is forbidden by Scriptural Law and may be expropriated through legal process. The judges expropriate it from the lender and return it to the borrower. If the lender dies, it is not expropriated from his children's possessions.

הִנִּיחַ לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם מָעוֹת שֶׁל רִבִּית אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵן יוֹדְעִין שֶׁהֵן שֶׁל רִבִּית אֵינָן חַיָּבִים לְהַחְזִיר. הִנִּיחַ לָהֶם פָּרָה וְטַלִּית שֶׁל רִבִּית וְכָל דָּבָר הַמְסֻיָּם חַיָּבִים לְהַחְזִיר מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד אֲבִיהֶן. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים כְּשֶׁעָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה וְלֹא הִסְפִּיק לְהַחְזִיר עַד שֶׁמֵּת. אֲבָל אִם לֹא עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה אֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁין לִכְבוֹדוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ דָּבָר הַמְסֻיָּם אֵין מַחֲזִירִין:

When a father leaves his sons money obtained by taking interest, they are not obligated to return it, even though they know that it was obtained through interest. If, however, he leaves them a cow, a garment or any other specific article obtained through interest, they are obligated to return it as an expression of honor for their father. When does the above apply? When their father repented, but was not able to return the article before he died. If, however, he did not repent, the sons need not be concerned with his honor. They are not required to return even a specific article.

הַגַּזְלָנִין וּמַלְוֵי בְּרִבִּית שֶׁהֶחְזִירוּ אֵין מְקַבְּלִין מֵהֶן כְּדֵי לִפְתֹּחַ לָהֶן דֶּרֶךְ לִתְשׁוּבָה. וְכָל הַמְקַבֵּל מֵהֶן אֵין רוּחַ חֲכָמִים נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ. אִם הָיְתָה גְּזֵלָה קַיֶּמֶת וְהָרִבִּית דָּבָר הַמְסֻיָּם וַהֲרֵי הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ מְקַבְּלִין מֵהֶן:

When robbers and people who lend money at interest seek to return the money they took, we should not receive it from them. This will make the path of teshuvah more accessible to them. Whoever accepts repayment from them is not looked upon favorably by our Sages. If, however, the stolen article itself was intact or a specific article was given as interest, and it itself is there, it may be accepted.

שְׁטָר שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ רִבִּית בֵּין קְצוּצָה בֵּין שֶׁל דִּבְרֵיהֶם גּוֹבֶה אֶת הַקֶּרֶן וְאֵינוֹ גּוֹבֶה אֶת הָרִבִּית. קָדַם וְגָבָה הַכּל מוֹצִיאִין מִמֶּנּוּ הָרִבִּית קְצוּצָה. אֲבָל אֲבַק רִבִּית שֶׁהוּא מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם אֵינוֹ גּוֹבֶה מִן הַלּוֶֹה לַמַּלְוֶה וְאֵין מַחֲזִירִין אוֹתוֹ מִן הַמַּלְוֶה לַלּוֶֹה:

When interest - whether fixed interest or interest forbidden by Rabbinic law - is mentioned in a promissory note, the lender may collect the principal, but not the interest. If he collected the entire amount, any fixed interest can be expropriated from him. "The shade of interest" - i.e., interest forbidden by Rabbinic law - may not be collected from the borrower by the lender, nor is it expropriated by the court from the lender for the borrower.

כָּל הַכּוֹתֵב שְׁטַר רִבִּית הֲרֵי זֶה כְּכוֹתֵב וּמֵעִיד עָלָיו עֵדִים שֶׁכָּפַר בַּה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְכֵן כָּל הַלּוֶֹה וּמַלְוֶה בְּרִבִּית בֵּינָן לְבֵין עַצְמָן הֲרֵי הֵן כְּכוֹפְרִים בַּה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכָפְרוּ בִּיצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה לז) "אֶת כַּסְפְּךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לוֹ בְּנֶשֶׁךְ" וְגוֹ' (ויקרא כה לח) "אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם":

Whenever a person writes a promissory note that includes interest, it is as if he documents and has witnesses testify that he denies G-d, the Lord of Israel. Similarly, whenever a person borrows or lends money at interest in privacy he denies G-d, the Lord of Israel, and denies the exodus from Egypt, as Leviticus 25:37-38 states: "Do not give him your money with neshech... I am G-d your Lord, who took you out of the land of Egypt."

אָסוּר לְאָדָם לְהַלְווֹת בָּנָיו וּבְנֵי בֵּיתוֹ בְּרִבִּית. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַקְפִּיד וּמַתָּנָה הוּא שֶׁנּוֹתֵן לָהֶן הֲרֵי זֶה אָסוּר שֶׁמָּא יַרְגִּילֵם בְּדָבָר זֶה:

It is forbidden for a person to borrow money from his sons or the members of his household at interest. This is forbidden even when he is not tightfisted and he is merely giving them a present. The rationale is that in doing so, he might habituate them to this practice.

תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים שֶׁהִלְווּ זֶה אֶת זֶה וְנָתַן לוֹ יֶתֶר עַל מַה שֶּׁהִלְוָה מִמֶּנּוּ הֲרֵי זֶה מֻתָּר שֶׁהַדָּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן לוֹ אֶלָּא מַתָּנָה שֶׁהֲרֵי הֵן יוֹדְעִין חֹמֶר אִסּוּר הָרִבִּית:

When Torah scholars lend money to one another and the borrower returns more than the amount loaned him, it is permitted. It is obvious that the extra amount was only a present that he gave him. For they know the severity of the prohibition against taking interest.

הַמַּלְוֶה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ וּמָצָא הַלּוֶֹה יוֹתֵר [אוֹ שֶׁהֶחְזִיר לוֹ חוֹבוֹ וּמָצָא הַמַּלְוֶה יוֹתֵר] אִם בִּכְדֵי שֶׁהַדַּעַת טוֹעָה חַיָּב לְהַחְזִיר וְאִם לָאו מַתָּנָה הוּא שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ אוֹ גְּזֵלָה הָיְתָה לוֹ בְּיָדוֹ וְהִבְלִיעַ לוֹ בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן אוֹ אַחֵר צִוָּה לְהַבְלִיעַ לוֹ. בְּכַמָּה הַדַּעַת טוֹעָה בְּאֶחָד וּבִשְׁנַיִם אוֹ בַּחֲמִשָּׁה אוֹ בַּעֲשָׂרָה שֶׁמָּא מָנָה חֲמִשָּׁה חֲמִשָּׁה אוֹ עֲשָׂרָה עֲשָׂרָה. וְכֵן אִם מָצָא יָתֵר מִנְיַן הַחֲמִישִׁיּוֹת אוֹ מִנְיַן הָעֲשִׂירִיּוֹת אֶחָד אֶחָד חַיָּב לְהַחְזִיר לוֹ שֶׁמָּא הָאֲחָדִים שֶׁהָיָה מוֹנֶה בָּהֶן הַחֲמִישִׁיּוֹת אוֹ הָעֲשִׂירִיּוֹת נִתְעָרְבוּ עִמָּהֶם:

The following laws apply when a person lends money to a colleague, and the borrower discovers more than the sum originally agreed upon, or the borrower returned a debt and the lender discovers more than the sum that was borrowed. If the additional amount was a sum about which a person might easily err, it must be returned. If not, we can assume that the borrower gave the lender a present, he had stolen property belonging to the lender in his possession and sought to return it together in the account without the lender being aware, or another person asked him to return money in such a manner. What can be considered a sum about which a person might easily err? One, two, five or ten more. The latter figures are included, for perhaps the person counted out the sum in groups of five or ten. Similarly, if the person found that a group of five or a group of ten had an additional one, he must return the extra amount. Maybe an additional one with which he was counting became mixed with a group of five or ten.

הַמַּלְוֶה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ עַל הַמַּטְבֵּעַ וְכֵן הַכּוֹתֵב לְאִשְׁתּוֹ בִּכְתֻבָּתָהּ מַטְבֵּעַ יָדוּעַ וּפֵרֵשׁ מִשְׁקָלוֹ וְהוֹסִיפוּ עַל מִשְׁקָלוֹ אִם הוּזְלוּ הַפֵּרוֹת מֵחֲמַת הַתּוֹסֶפֶת מְנַכֶּה לוֹ שִׁעוּר הַתּוֹסֶפֶת וַאֲפִלּוּ הוֹסִיפוּ עָלָיו כָּל שֶׁהוּא. וְאִם לֹא הוּזְלוּ מֵחֲמַת הַתּוֹסֶפֶת אֵינוֹ מְנַכֶּה לוֹ אֶלָּא נוֹתֵן לוֹ מִמַּטְבֵּעַ הַיּוֹצֵא בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁהוֹסִיפוּ עָלָיו עַד חֲמִישִׁיתוֹ כְּגוֹן שֶׁהָיָה מִשְׁקָלוֹ אַרְבָּעָה וַעֲשָׂאוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה אֲבָל אִם הוֹסִיפוּ לוֹ יוֹתֵר עַל חֲמִישִׁיתוֹ מְנַכֶּה לוֹ כָּל הַתּוֹסֶפֶת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הוּזְלוּ הַפֵּרוֹת. וְהוּא הַדִּין לְמַלְוֶה עַל הַמַּטְבֵּעַ וּפָחֲתוּ מִמֶּנּוּ:

The following laws apply when a person lends a colleague according to a particular coinage, or stipulates in his wife's ketubah that a sum should be paid to her in a particular coinage, and then the ruling authorities increase the weight of that coinage. When the value of produce was reduced because of the increase, he should deduct the proportion of the increase, even if the increase was minimal. If, however, the value of produce is not reduced because of the addition, he need not deduct that proportion. Instead, he should pay him the coin used as currency at that time. When does the above apply? When the addition was one fifth of its value -e.g., its weight was four units and it was increased to five. If, however, more than a fifth was added, he should deduct the entire proportionate amount of the increase, even though the price of produce did not increase. Similar laws apply with regard to a loan when the weight of a coin was decreased.

הַמַּלְוֶה אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ עַל הַמַּטְבֵּעַ וְנִפְסַל אִם יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיאוֹ בִּמְדִינָה אַחֶרֶת וְיֵשׁ לוֹ דֶּרֶךְ לְאוֹתָהּ מְדִינָה נוֹתֵן לוֹ מִמַּטְבֵּעַ שֶׁהִלְוָהוּ וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ לֵךְ וְהוֹצִיאוֹ בְּמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי. וְאִם אֵין לוֹ דֶּרֶךְ לְשָׁם נוֹתֵן לוֹ מִמַּטְבֵּעַ הַיּוֹצֵא בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. וְכֵן בִּכְתֻבָּה:

The following rules apply when a person lends a colleague according to a particular coinage, and that coinage is disqualified by the ruling authorities. If the lender could use the disqualified coin as legal tender in another country, and the lender has a way of getting to that country, the borrower may repay him in the coinage that he lent him, telling him: "Go and use it in such and such a place." If the lender does not have a way of getting there, the borrower must repay him in the coinage that is legal tender at that time. Similar laws apply with regard to a ketubah.

הוֹרוּ מִקְצָת הַגְּאוֹנִים שֶׁהַלּוֶֹה שֶׁמָּחַל לַמַּלְוֶה בְּרִבִּית שֶׁלָּקַח מִמֶּנּוּ אוֹ שֶׁעָתִיד לִקַּח אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקָּנוּ מִיָּדוֹ שֶׁמָּחַל אוֹ נָתַן מַתָּנָה אֵינוֹ מוֹעִיל כְּלוּם שֶׁכָּל רִבִּית שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם מְחִילָה הִיא אֲבָל הַתּוֹרָה לֹא מָחֲלָה וְאָסְרָה מְחִילָה זוֹ וּלְפִיכָךְ אֵין הַמְּחִילָה מוֹעֶלֶת בְּרִבִּית אֲפִלּוּ בְּרִבִּית שֶׁל דִּבְרֵיהֶם. יֵרָאֶה לִי שֶׁאֵין הוֹרָאָה זוֹ נְכוֹנָה אֶלָּא מֵאַחַר שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לַמַּלְוֶה לְהַחְזִיר לוֹ וְיָדַע הַמַּלְוֶה שֶׁדְּבַר אִסּוּר עָשָׂה וְיֵשׁ לוֹ לִטּל מִמֶּנּוּ אִם רָצָה לִמְחל מוֹחֵל כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמּוֹחֵל הַגֵּזֶל. וּבְפֵרוּשׁ אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁהַגַּזְלָנִין וּמַלְוֵי בְּרִבִּית שֶׁהֶחְזִירוּ אֵין מְקַבְּלִין מֵהֶן מִכְּלָל שֶׁהַמְּחִילָה מוֹעֶלֶת:

Some of the Geonim have taught that the borrower who waives the interest a lender has charged or will in the future charge on his behalf, even if he [affirms his] waiver through kinyan or gives [it as] a present, [his words] accomplish nothing. [Their rationale is] that all interest [that is given], [the borrower] always waives it. But the Torah does not waive [it] and forbids this waiver [specifically]. Therefore, waiver of interest is not effective, even interest [forbidden by] the rulings [of the rabbis]. It appears to me that this teaching is not correct. Instead, because they tell the lender to return to him [the interest], and the lender knows that he did a prohibited thing, and [the borrower] can take from him [the money], if [the borrower] wants to waive [the obligation to return the interest], he can waive, just as a person can waive [the return of] a stolen object. The Sages said explicitly that when thieves and lenders [of money] at interest return [the interest], we should not receive it from them, from the general rule that waiver [of the requirement to return interest] is effective.

נִכְסֵי יְתוֹמִים מֻתָּר לִתֵּן אוֹתָם לְאָדָם נֶאֱמָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ נְכָסִים טוֹבִים קָרוֹב לְשָׂכָר וְרָחוֹק לְהֶפְסֵד. כֵּיצַד. אוֹמֵר לוֹ תִּהְיֶה נוֹשֵׂא וְנוֹתֵן בָּהֶן אִם יֵשׁ שָׁם רֶוַח תֵּן לָהֶם חֶלְקָן מִן הָרֶוַח וְאִם יֵשׁ שָׁם הֶפְסֵד תַּפְסִיד אַתָּה לְבַדְּךָ שֶׁזֶּה אֲבַק רִבִּית הוּא וְכָל אֲבַק רִבִּית אֵינָהּ אֲסוּרָה אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם וּבְנִכְסֵי יְתוֹמִים לֹא גָּזְרוּ:

It is permitted to give property belonging to orphans to a faithful person who has valuable properties to offer as security, in an arrangement that is likely to lead to profit and unlikely to lead to loss. What is implied? The court tells the person: "Do business with their property. If there is a profit, give them a portion of the profit. If there is a loss, suffer the loss yourself." This is "the shade of interest." Nevertheless, "the shade of interest" is forbidden only because of a Rabbinic decree, and our Sages did not apply their decree to property belonging to orphans.