51 Bible Verses about Debt

Most Relevant Verses

Luke 16:5

So he summoned his master’s debtors one by one, and he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

Luke 7:43

Simon answered, “The one, I take it, for whom he forgave more.” Jesus said to him, “You have decided correctly.”

Deuteronomy 15:1

“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release (remission, pardon) from debt.

Romans 13:8

Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman].

Deuteronomy 15:3

You may require repayment from a foreigner, but whatever of yours is with your brother [Israelite] your hand shall release.

Romans 8:12

So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]—

2 Kings 4:1

Now one of the wives of a man of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha [for help], saying “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant [reverently] feared the Lord; but the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves [in payment for a loan].”

Matthew 18:25

But because he could not repay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made.

Colossians 2:14

having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross.

Matthew 18:24

When he began the accounting, one who owed him 10,000 talents was brought to him.

Proverbs 13:13


Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself,
But he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded.

Matthew 18:30

But he was unwilling and he went and had him thrown in prison until he paid back the debt.

Romans 4:4

Now to a laborer, his wages are not credited as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation [something owed to him].

Proverbs 11:15


He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],
But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].

Luke 7:41

“A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

Matthew 18:28

But that same slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe!’

Nehemiah 10:31

As for the peoples of the land who bring merchandise or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day; and we will give up raising crops during the seventh year [leaving the land uncultivated], and forgive every debt.

Romans 1:14

I have a duty to perform and a debt to pay both to Greeks and to barbarians [the cultured and the uncultured], both to the wise and to the foolish.

Luke 16:7

Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’

Proverbs 6:5


Tear yourself away like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Luke 7:42

When they had no means of repaying [the debts], he freely forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”

Deuteronomy 31:10

Then Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the time of year when debts are forgiven, at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles),

2 Kings 4:7

Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Matthew 18:34

And in wrath his master turned him over to the torturers (jailers) until he paid all that he owed.

Proverbs 22:26


Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances],
Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.

1 Samuel 22:2

Everyone who was suffering hardship, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him.

Philemon 1:18

But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

2 Kings 4:3

Then he said, “Go, borrow containers from all your neighbors, empty containers—and not just a few.

Deuteronomy 15:2

This is the regulation for the release: every creditor shall forgive what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not require repayment from his neighbor and his brother, because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed.

Matthew 18:32

Then his master called him and said to him, ‘You wicked and contemptible slave, I forgave all that [great] debt of yours because you begged me.

Romans 15:27

They were pleased to do it, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual things, then they are indebted to serve them also in [tangible] material things.

Proverbs 6:3


Do this now, my son, and release yourself [from the obligation];
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor [to pay his debt and release you].

Proverbs 6:1

My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor,
If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],

Romans 11:6

But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works].

2 Kings 4:6

When the containers were all full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” And he said to her, “There is not a one left.” Then the oil stopped [multiplying].

Proverbs 6:4


Give no [unnecessary] sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;

Deuteronomy 24:15

You shall give him his wages on the day that he earns them before the sun sets—for he is poor and is counting on it—so that he does not cry out to the Lord against you, and it becomes a sin for you.

Psalm 49:7


None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—

Ezekiel 33:15

if a wicked man returns [what he took as] a pledge, pays back what he had taken by robbery, walks in the statutes which ensure life, without committing injustice, he will certainly live; he will not die.

Proverbs 17:18


A man lacking common sense gives a pledge
And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.

2 Kings 4:2

Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have [of value] in the house?” She said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a [small] jar of [olive] oil.”

From Thematic Bible


Debt » Security for

Job 22:6


“For you have taken pledges of your brothers without cause,
And stripped men naked.

Proverbs 22:26


Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances],
Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.

Deuteronomy 24:6

“No one shall take a handmill or an upper millstone [used to grind grain into bread] as security [for a debt], for he would be taking a [person’s] life in pledge.

Amos 2:8


“They stretch out beside every [pagan] altar on clothes taken in pledge [to secure a loan, disregarding God’s command],
And in the house of their God [in contempt of Him] they frivolously drink the wine [which has been] taken from those who have been fined.

Job 24:9


“Others snatch the fatherless [infants] from the breast [to sell or make them slaves],
And against the poor they take a pledge [of clothing].

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