Pledge
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
A pledge refers to property held as security for a debt or obligation. Ancient Israelite law imposed strict limitations on accepting certain items, such as a neighbor's cloak, as pledges to prevent the exploitation of the vulnerable and to preserve the basic dignity of the poor.
What is the meaning of Pledge in the Bible?
A pledge refers to property held as security for a debt or obligation. Ancient Israelite law imposed strict limitations on accepting certain items, such as a neighbor's cloak, as pledges to prevent the exploitation of the vulnerable and to preserve the basic dignity of the poor.
SIGNIFICANCE
These legal restrictions reveal that biblical social justice prioritized the protection of the poor over creditor rights, ensuring that economic practices did not undermine human dignity or the stability of the covenant community.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Pledge in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Pledge clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.