needy

Everyday

1. Needy people are poor and do not have enough money, food or things they need. tree →
2. The needy means poor people as a group. tree →
3. (informal) A needy person wants a lot of attention, help or comfort from others. tree →

In the lessons

In ethics, church life and charity: help the needy, give to needy families, food banks. In everyday talk: «My puppy is so needy — he follows me everywhere.»

Examples

• Our school collected food for needy families. tree →
• The church gives warm meals to the needy. tree →
• Christians believe they should care for the needy. tree →
• Children in needy areas may have no books at home. tree →
• My little brother is very needy when he is tired. tree →
• The charity helps needy children all over the world. tree →

Note

«The needy» takes a plural verb: the needy are helped. Be respectful: many people prefer «people in need». The informal «needy» (clingy) can sound unkind about a person.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah the needy are poor people who are protected by special laws.

Interpretation. The Torah commands Israel to open the hand to the needy brother. Tradition made charity (tzedakah) a duty and not just a kindness, and also forbade delaying the wages of a poor worker.

Examples

• For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying: 'Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy brother, in thy land.' (Torah DEU.15.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates. (Torah DEU.24.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Howbeit there shall be no needy among you — for the LORD will surely bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it — (Torah DEU.15.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• For the LORD hearkeneth unto the needy, and despiseth not His prisoners. (Writings PSA.69.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. (Writings PSA.109.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. (Prophets JER.22.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«The needy» takes a plural verb: the needy are helped. Be respectful: many people prefer «people in need». The informal «needy» (clingy) can sound unkind about a person.