BIBLE DICTIONARY
Usury

Usury sometimes has more than one meaning. In biblical English it often means simply charging interest on a loan. At other times it implies an unduly high rate of interest. Under the law of Moses, Israel was forbidden to charge usury, as in Ex. 22: 25; Lev. 25: 35-38; Deut. 23: 19-21; Neh. 5: 1-13); Ezek. 18: 8; Ezek. 22: 12. The restriction, however, seems to be when lending to a fellow church member. There is no clear restriction against charges for loans to others. Jesus gives some credence to interest charges in Matt. 25: 14-30; Luke 19: 12-27. Latter-day revelation does not contain restrictions against interest charges.