Deuteronomy 14 21

Deuteronomy 14:21 kjv

Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

Deuteronomy 14:21 nkjv

"You shall not eat anything that dies of itself; you may give it to the alien who is within your gates, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. " You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

Deuteronomy 14:21 niv

Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to the foreigner residing in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to any other foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.

Deuteronomy 14:21 esv

"You shall not eat anything that has died naturally. You may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns, that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. "You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

Deuteronomy 14:21 nlt

"You must not eat anything that has died a natural death. You may give it to a foreigner living in your town, or you may sell it to a stranger. But do not eat it yourselves, for you are set apart as holy to the LORD your God. "You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.

Deuteronomy 14 verses

Deuteronomy 14 21 Meaning

Deuteronomy 14:21 sets forth two distinct dietary laws for the Israelites, emphasizing their holy identity as God's chosen people. First, it prohibits the consumption of animals that have died of natural causes (carrion), but permits Israelites to give or sell such meat to sojourners or foreigners. Second, it reiterates the command against boiling a young goat in its mother's milk. These laws underscore Israel's separation and distinctive covenant relationship with the Lord, guiding their purity and their interaction with non-Israelites.

Deuteronomy 14 21 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 14 outlines specific laws concerning food and tithes, primarily aimed at reinforcing Israel's unique status as a holy people. The preceding verses (Dt 14:1-10) delineate the types of animals permissible and impermissible for consumption, emphasizing that Israel, being God's sons, should not defile themselves with unholy things. Following the dietary laws, the chapter moves to the laws of tithing, directing how a portion of their produce should be consecrated to the Lord for festivals and for supporting the Levites and the needy (Dt 14:22-29). Deuteronomy 14:21 sits within this broader context of regulating daily life in accordance with covenant obligations, thereby demonstrating Israel's distinctive relationship with Yahweh. Historically, these laws functioned to separate Israel from the idolatrous and often morally degraded practices of the surrounding Canaanite nations, reinforcing their identity as a monotheistic and holy community.

Deuteronomy 14 21 Word analysis

• "You shall not eat" (לֹא תֹאכְלוּ - lo tokhelu): This phrase signifies a direct and firm prohibition, commanding a specific abstinence. It indicates a required standard of purity for the Israelite individual and community.
• "anything that dies of itself" (כָּל נְבֵלָה - kol nevelah):
  • nevelah: Refers to a carcass, an animal that has died naturally or was torn by beasts, rather than being slaughtered ritually. This prohibition stems from multiple reasons: the animal's unbled state (violating the sanctity of blood), potential disease, and association with ritual impurity (Lev 11:39-40; 17:15). It underlines the Israelite commitment to a distinct diet reflective of their holiness.
• "You may give it to the sojourner" (תִּתְּנֶנָּה לַגֵּר - titnennah lagger):
  • ger: A resident alien or sojourner who has come to live among Israel. While expected to respect certain moral laws, the ger was not bound by all covenant laws, particularly those related to ritual purity and food. This provision demonstrates a blend of compassion (charity) and practical distinction within the Israelite community, acknowledging the ger's intermediate status.
• "who is within your towns" (אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ - asher bish'areykha): Specifies that the sojourner is an integral part of the community, living inside the city gates, making them recipients of Israelite benevolence.
• "or you may sell it to a foreigner" (אוֹ מָכֹר לְנָכְרִי - o makhor l'nokhri):
  • nokri: A foreigner, someone not resident in Israel's towns, or an outsider not committed to the Lord or Israel's ways. They were not under the Mosaic covenant. The permission to sell underscores a pragmatic allowance for trade and the acknowledgement of distinct dietary norms for those outside the covenant community.
• "for you are a people holy" (כִּי עַם קָדוֹשׁ אַתָּה - ki am kadosh attah):
  • kadosh: Meaning "holy," "set apart," or "consecrated." This clause provides the overarching theological rationale for the food laws. Israel's separation in diet is a reflection of their consecrated status and God's distinct call on their lives, distinguishing them from the surrounding nations who did not share this covenant.
• "to the Lord your God" (לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - laYHWH Eloheykha): Reaffirms that their holiness is specifically unto Yahweh, implying that their actions and distinctiveness are in service and obedience to Him.
• "You shall not boil a young goat" (לֹא תְבַשֵּׁל גְּדִי - lo tevashshël gedi):
  • gedi: Refers to a young goat or kid. This precise phrasing highlights the particular object of the prohibition.
• "in its mother's milk" (בַּחֲלֵב אִמּוֹ - ba'halev immo): This is a powerful and oft-repeated prohibition (Exod 23:19; 34:26). Its significance is multi-layered:
  • Polemics against Paganism: It is widely understood as a direct prohibition against a Canaanite fertility rite or harvest ritual, where animals might have been boiled in milk to ensure agricultural prosperity. Such practices would have been anathema to Israel's singular devotion to Yahweh.
  • Natural Order/Cruelty: Some interpret it as prohibiting an unnatural act, taking life by using the very substance (mother's milk) intended to sustain life. This avoids a form of perceived "unnaturalness" or "cruelty."
  • Distinction: It serves as another boundary marker, reinforcing Israel's uniqueness and ethical distinctiveness from surrounding cultures.

Deuteronomy 14 21 Bonus section

The specific choice of "young goat" (gedi) in the milk prohibition might be significant given that young goats were commonly used for sacrifices or consumed during festive occasions, connecting the command potentially to the sacrificial calendar. The reiteration of the "boiling a kid in its mother's milk" command alongside laws regarding firstfruits and feasts (as seen in Exodus 23 and 34) further supports its link to ancient Near Eastern agricultural rites, where such acts might have been performed to ensure fertile fields and livestock. The principle of distinction that this verse emphasizes extends beyond dietary habits to encompass every area of the believer's life, echoing into the New Testament call for Christians to live as a "holy nation, a people for his own possession" (1 Pet 2:9). The "reason clauses" in Deuteronomy, like "for you are a people holy," are hallmark features of the book, providing theological justifications for the commands and showing God's intent for Israel's character.

Deuteronomy 14 21 Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:21 profoundly encapsulates key aspects of Israelite theology: holiness, distinction, and covenant ethics. The prohibition against eating carrion served to maintain ritual purity and emphasized Israel's set-apart status. Since unbled meat or diseased animals were unfit for a people consecrated to Yahweh, their careful dietary practices reinforced their unique identity. The permission to give or sell this forbidden meat to sojourners and foreigners showcases a nuanced application of the law, balancing compassionate provision for those living among them with acknowledging the different covenant obligations of non-Israelites. This wasn't a blanket dismissal of ethical standards but rather a practical allowance based on differing ritual purity requirements.

The emphatic command against boiling a young goat in its mother's milk, repeated across the Pentateuch, carries deep symbolic weight. While later Rabbinic Judaism developed extensive laws on separating meat and milk from this verse, its primary immediate context points towards an explicit repudiation of idolatrous Canaanite agricultural and fertility rites. This instruction served as a powerful declaration that Israel's prosperity and fruitfulness came solely from Yahweh and not from pagan practices, and it also potentially communicated a respect for the natural order and an avoidance of what was considered an act of cruelty or disrespect to the life-giving essence of the animal.

Ultimately, Deuteronomy 14:21 illustrates that God’s laws for Israel were not arbitrary. They were foundational to their national identity, ensuring their separation from defiling influences, shaping their internal social interactions (with sojourners), and distinguishing them from external nations—all rooted in their calling to be a "people holy to the Lord your God." This foundational truth informs not just dietary regulations, but the entire fabric of Israelite life, urging a consistent witness to the holiness of God they served.