A skeptical objection asserts: "According to this prophecy Jews would be borrowers and not lenders. If Jews had always been debtors instead of great creditors throughout history, Christians would hail this as a fantastic prophecy instead of the failure it is."

In context, these verses constitute one of the curses that God pronounces on the Jews should they not follow his commandments (v. 15). In addition, this applies to the Old Covenant, which was fulfilled and surpassed by the New Covenant in Christ. It is not a universal or perpetual prophecy.