Deuteronomy14
English Standard Version
1You are the of the Lord your . You shall yourselves or any on your for the .
2 you are a to the Lord your , and the Lord has you to be a for his , out the are the of the .
3You shall .
4 are the you may : the , the , the ,
5the , the , the , the , the , the , and the .
6 that the and has the in and the , among the , you may .
7 of those that the or the you shall these: the , the , and the , they the but do the , are for you.
8And the , it the but does chew the , is for you. Their you shall , and their you shall .
9 are in the you may : has and you may .
10And does have and you shall ; it is for you.
11You may .
12But are the ones you shall : the , the , the ,
13the , the of any ;
14 of any ;
15the , the , the , the of any ;
16the and the , the
17and the , the and the ,
18the , the of any ; the and the .
19And are for you; they shall be .
20 you may .
21You shall that has . You may it to the is within your , that he may it, or you may it to a . you are a to the Lord your . You shall a in its .
22 the of your that from the by .
23And the Lord your , in the he will , to his , you shall the of your , of your , and of your , and the of your and , you may to the Lord your .
24And the is too for you, so you are to the tithe, when the Lord your you, the is too from you, the Lord your , to his ,
25then you shall it into and the in your and to the the Lord your
26and the for — or or or , your . And you shall the Lord your and , you and your .
27And you shall the is within your , he has or with you.
28At the of every you shall bring the of your in the same and lay it within your .
29And the , he has or with you, and the , the , and the , are within your , shall and and be , the Lord your may you in the of your that you .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Israelites to distinguish themselves from other nations. (1–21). Respecting the application of tithes. (22–29).
vv1-21
Moses tells the people of Israel how God had given them three distinguishing privileges, which were their honour, and figures of those spiritual blessings in heavenly things, with which God has in Christ blessed us. Here is election; “The Lord hath chosen thee.” He did not choose them because they were by their own acts a peculiar people to him above other nations, but he chose them that they might be so by his grace; and thus were believers chosen, Eph 1:4. Here is adoption; “Ye are the children of the Lord your God;” not because God needed children, but because they were orphans, and needed a father. Every spiritual Israelite is indeed a child of God, a partaker of his nature and favour. Here is sanctification; “Thou art a holy people.” God's people are required to be holy, and if they are holy, they are indebted to the grace God which makes them so. Those whom God chooses to be his children, he will form to be a holy people, and zealous of good works. They must be careful to avoid every thing which might disgrace their profession, in the sight of those who watch for their halting. Our heavenly Father forbids nothing but for our welfare. Do thyself no harm; do not ruin thy health, thy reputation, thy domestic comforts, thy peace of mind. Especially do not murder thy soul. Do not be the vile slave of thy appetites and passions. Do not render all around thee miserable, and thyself wretched; but aim at that which is most excellent and useful. The laws which regarded many sorts of flesh as unclean, were to keep them from mingling with their idolatrous neighbours. It is plain in the gospel, that these laws are now done away. But let us ask our own hearts, Are we of the children of the Lord our God? Are we separate from the ungodly world, in being set apart to God's glory, the purchase of Christ's blood? Are we subjects of the work of the Holy Ghost? Lord, teach us from these precepts how pure and holy all thy people ought to live!
vv22-29
A second portion from the produce of their land was required. The whole appointment evidently was against the covetousness, distrust, and selfishness of the human heart. It promoted friendliness, liberality, and cheerfulness, and raised a fund for the relief of the poor. They were taught that their worldly portion was most comfortably enjoyed, when shared with their brethren who were in want. If we thus serve God, and do good with what we have, it is promised that the Lord our God will bless us in all the works of our land. The blessing of God is all to our outward prosperity; and without that blessing, the work of our hands will bring nothing to pass. The blessing descends upon the working hand. Expect not that God should bless thee in thy idleness and love of ease. And it descends upon the giving hand. He who thus scatters, certainly increases; and to be free and generous in the support of religion, and any good work, is the surest and safest way of thriving.
Key Words
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
גָּדַד: to crowd; also to gash (as if by pressing into)
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
קׇרְחָה: baldness
מוּת: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
קָדוֹשׁ: sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary
Cross References
Deuteronomy 14The primary parallel passage setting forth the distinction between clean and unclean land beasts.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The parallel catalog of prohibited unclean birds and flying creatures.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The original prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother's milk.
Supported by JFB
Repeats the cultic prohibition of seething a kid in its mother's milk.
Supported by JFB
Elaborates on the third-year tithe laid up within the gates for the Levite and poor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prohibits rounding the corners of the head or disfiguring oneself in mourning practices.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Forbids priests from making baldness on their heads or incisions in their flesh.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates pagan mourning rituals of cutting oneself and making baldness.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Depicts pagan idolaters cutting themselves as a standard custom of worship.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament warning against excessive, hopeless grief for the dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects dietary distinction directly with God's separation of Israel from the nations.
Supported by John Calvin
The parallel priestly instructions for identifying clean and unclean aquatic creatures.
Supported by John Calvin
The parallel categorization of unclean winged insects and creeping things.
Supported by John Calvin
Prescribes cleansing laws for eating animals that die of themselves.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Permits eating clean wild game like the roebuck and hart.
Supported by JFB