Definition: If thou lend money to [any of] my people [that is] poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 22:25. It’s a really important rule about lending money and avoiding unfair practices. Here's the explanation in simple terms: “If you lend money to my people [that is] poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.” Let's unpack that: "If you lend money..." – This means you’re giving someone else money. "...to my people [that is] poor by thee..." – This refers to the Israelites (the Jewish people) who were suffering and in need of financial help. “Poor by thee” means they were struggling financially, perhaps due to hardship or lack of resources. "Thou shalt not be to him as an usurer..." – This is the key part. "Usurer" means charging excessively high interest rates on loans. It's essentially charging more than what a reasonable person would charge. “Thou” is a formal way of saying “you.” So, you must not charge them exorbitant interest. "...neither shalt thou lay upon him usury." – This is a more precise way of saying "do not charge them excessive interest." "Usury" is when someone charges more than the normal interest rate for a loan – it's essentially taking advantage of someone’s vulnerability. So, what does this verse mean practically? It's a strong rule against lending money with unfair terms. It emphasizes fairness and protecting those who are in need. The Bible says you should not charge them excessively high interest rates because they’re already vulnerable. Why is this important? This commandment was given to the Israelites as a way of showing their care for their people, especially during times of hardship. It’s about upholding justice and ensuring fairness in business transactions. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse from Exodus 22:25? Provide more context or background on this commandment?