Bible Dictionaries
Usury

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

As employed in our version of the Bible, means only interest. When our translation was made, the word usury had not assumed the bad sense which it now has. The Jews might require interest of foreigners, Deuteronomy 23:19-20 , but were forbidden to receive it from each other, Exodus 22:25 Psalm 15:5; being instructed to lend money, etc., in a spirit of brotherly kindness, "hoping for nothing again," Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Luke 6:33-35 . The exacting of usury is often rebuked, Nehemiah 5:7,10 Proverbs 28:8 Ezekiel 22:12-14 . The Mosaic code was adapted to a non-commercial people, but its principles of equity and charity are of perpetual and universal obligation.

Bibliography Information
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Usury'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ats/​u/usury.html. 1859.