Deuteronomy16
English Standard Version
1 the of and the to the Lord your , in the of the Lord your of by .
2And you shall the to the Lord your , from the or the , at the the Lord will , to his .
3You shall it. you shall it with , the of — you of the of in — the of your you may the when you of the of .
4 shall be with you in your for , shall of the you on the of the all night until .
5 the within of your the Lord your is you,
6 at the the Lord your will , to his in it, you shall the , in the at , at the you of .
7And you shall it and it at the the Lord your will . And in the you shall and to your .
8For you shall , and on the there shall be a to the Lord your . You shall on it.
9You shall . to the from the the is first put to the .
10Then you shall the of to the Lord your with the of a from your , you shall the Lord your you.
11And you shall the Lord your , you and your and your , your and your female , the is within your , the , the , and the are you, at the the Lord your will , to his .
12You shall you were a in ; and you shall be to .
13You shall the of , when you have in the produce from your and your .
14You shall in your , you and your and your , your and your female , the , the , the , and the are within your .
15For you shall keep the to the Lord your at the the Lord will , the Lord your will you in your and in the of your , so that you will be .
16 a your shall the Lord your at the he will : at the of , at the of , and at the of . They shall the Lord .
17Every shall as he is , according to the of the Lord your he has you.
18You shall and in your the Lord your is you, according to your , and they shall the with .
19You shall . You shall , and you shall a , a the of the and the of the .
20 , and , you shall , you may and the the Lord your is you.
21You shall as an the of the Lord your that you shall .
22And you shall a , the Lord your .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The yearly feasts. (1–17). Of judges, Groves and images forbidden. (18–22).
vv1-17
The laws for the three yearly feasts are here repeated; that of the Passover, that of the Pentecost, that of Tabernacles; and the general law concerning the people's attendance. Never should a believer forget his low estate of guilt and misery, his deliverance, and the price it cost the Redeemer; that gratitude and joy in the Lord may be mingled with sorrow for sin, and patience under the tribulations in his way to the kingdom of heaven. They must rejoice in their receivings from God, and in their returns of service and sacrifice to him; our duty must be our delight, as well as our enjoyment. If those who were under the law must rejoice before God, much more we that are under the grace of the gospel; which makes it our duty to rejoice evermore, to rejoice in the Lord always. When we rejoice in God ourselves, we should do what we can to assist others also to rejoice in him, by comforting the mourners, and supplying those who are in want. All who make God their joy, may rejoice in hope, for He is faithful that has promised.
vv18-22
Care is taken for the due administration of justice. All personal regards must be laid aside, so that right is done to all, and wrong to none. Care is taken to prevent following the idolatrous customs of the heathen. Nothing belies God more, or tends more to corrupt the minds of men, than representing and worshipping, by an image, that God, who is an almighty and eternal Spirit, present every where. Alas! even in gospel days, and under a better dispensation, established upon better promises, there is a tendency to set up idols, under one form or another, in the human heart.
Key Words
שָׁמַר: properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
אָבִיב: green, i.e. a young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month Abib or Nisan
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
פֶּסַח: a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim)
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
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
מִצְרַיִם: Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
לַיִל: properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Cross References
Deuteronomy 16Establishes the foundational law for all males appearing three times a year before the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Provides the original prescription for roasting and eating the Passover lamb with unleavened bread.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Shows the historical fulfillment of roasting the Passover lambs according to the law at Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Repeats the solemn command for all males to appear before Yahweh at the three major feasts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Anticipates the central sanctuary 'place which the Lord shall choose' to put His name.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms the sacrificial nature of the Passover, requiring blood to be handled at the altar.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the Feast of Weeks as the harvest feast of firstfruits from your labors.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The central theological motive: remembering Egyptian bondage to motivate obedience, charity, and joyful worship.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Provides the detailed, foundational Levitical law for observing the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel prohibition against taking bribes, which blind the eyes of those who can see.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Commands the destruction of Canaanite groves, anticipating the ban on planting near God's altar.
Supported by John Calvin
The original institution of the Passover in Egypt during the month of Abib.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Specifies counting seven weeks from the day the wave sheaf of firstfruits was brought.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts God-ordained memorial stones inscribed with the Law with forbidden pagan ritual pillars.
Supported by John Calvin