Biblical Motives for Alleviating Poverty: An Exegetical Analysis of Leviticus 25:35–38
Keywords:
Poverty and Social Justice, Poor, Aliens, Strangers, Law of Moses, Fear of GodAbstract
This article examines the ethical imperatives for addressing poverty outlined in the Hebrew law codes in Leviticus 25:35–38. The study focuses on the motive clauses that underpin the commands to support the impoverished. A detailed exegetical analysis of the article explores how YHWH’s character and redemptive acts serve as primary motivations for the Israelites’ ethical behavior towards the poor. The study examines the grammatically subordinate sentences that convey these motivations, enhancing the understanding of biblical commands in their historical and cultural context. The article argues that the fear of God, the self-proclamation of God, and the redemption of the people by God were the central motives driving the Israelites’ obligations to alleviate poverty. By unpacking these biblical motives, the study offers insights relevant to contemporary discussions on poverty and social justice, particularly in the African church. The findings underscore the theological and ethical foundations that should inform Christian attitudes and actions towards the less fortunate, advocating for a compassionate and just approach rooted in reverence for God and gratitude for his redemptive works.
This article examines the ethical imperatives for addressing poverty outlined in the Hebrew law codes in Leviticus 25:35–38. The study focuses on the motive clauses that underpin the commands to support the impoverished. A detailed exegetical analysis of the article explores how YHWH’s character and redemptive acts serve as primary motivations for the Israelites’ ethical behavior towards the poor. The study examines the grammatically subordinate sentences that convey these motivations, enhancing the understanding of biblical commands in their historical and cultural context. The article argues that the fear of God, the self-proclamation of God, and the redemption of the people by God were the central motives driving the Israelites’ obligations to alleviate poverty. By unpacking these biblical motives, the study offers insights relevant to contemporary discussions on poverty and social justice, particularly in the African church. The findings underscore the theological and ethical foundations that should inform Christian attitudes and actions towards the less fortunate, advocating for a compassionate and just approach rooted in reverence for God and gratitude for his redemptive works.
