What Does the Bible Say About Debt?
The Bible does not call borrowing a sin, but it treats debt soberly as something that limits freedom: "the borrower is servant to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7). It consistently urges caution, warns against co-signing rashly, and praises those who repay what they owe — noting that "the wicked borrow and don't pay back" (Psalm 37:21).
Romans 13:8 gives the guiding principle: "Owe no one anything, except to love one another." Many read this not as an absolute ban on all borrowing but as a call to keep obligations current and avoid being enslaved by them. The broader biblical vision favors living within one's means, planning ahead, and generosity — the opposite of the bondage that unpayable debt creates.
Key Bible Verses
“The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.”
Proverbs 22:7 (WEB)
“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 13:8 (WEB)
“The wicked borrow, and don't pay back, but the righteous give generously.”
Psalm 37:21 (WEB)
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is debt a sin according to the Bible?
- The Bible does not label borrowing itself a sin, but it warns that 'the borrower is servant to the lender' (Proverbs 22:7) and urges repaying debts (Psalm 37:21). Romans 13:8 encourages keeping obligations current and not being enslaved by debt.