It is evident that what is here said must be understood of accumulated usury, or what we call compound interest only; and accordingly ûn neshech is mentioned with and distinguished from hybrt tarbith and hybrm marbith, interest or simple interest, Lev. xxv. 36, 37; Prov. xxviii. 8; Ezek. xviii. 8, 13, 17, and ver. 12. - Parkhurst.

Perhaps usury may be more properly defined unlawful interest, receiving more for the loan of money than it is really worth, and more than the law allows. It is a wise regulation in the laws of England, that if a man be convicted of usury - taking unlawful interest, the bond or security is rendered void, and he forfeits treble the sum borrowed. Against such an oppressive practice the wisdom of God saw it essentially necessary to make a law to prevent a people, who were naturally what our Lord calls the Pharisees, filarguroi, lovers of money, (Luke xvi. 14,) from oppressing each other; and who, notwithstanding the law in the text, practice usury in all places of their dispersion to the present day.

Matthew Henry Commentary

--The people of God should ever be ready to show mildness and mercy according to the spirit of these laws. We must answer to God, not onl for what we do maliciously, but for what we do heedlessly. Therefore when we have done harm to our neighbour, we should make restitution though not compelled by law. Let these scriptures lead our souls to remember, that if the grace of God has indeed appeared to us, then i has taught us, and enabled us so to conduct ourselves by its holy power, that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should liv soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, Tit 2:12. An the grace of God teaches us, that as the Lord is our portion, there is enough in him to satisfy all the desires of our souls __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew