Deuteronomy 14:24 kjv
And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
Deuteronomy 14:24 nkjv
But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you,
Deuteronomy 14:24 niv
But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away),
Deuteronomy 14:24 esv
And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there,
Deuteronomy 14:24 nlt
"Now when the LORD your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship he chooses for his name to be honored might be too far for you to bring the tithe.
Deuteronomy 14 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 14:22 | "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain...year by year." | Context: Command for annual tithe |
| Deut 14:23 | "And you shall eat before the LORD your God...in the place where He chooses to make His name abide..." | Context: Where to eat the tithe |
| Deut 14:25 | "then you shall turn it into money... and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses." | Immediate follow-up: Converting to money |
| Deut 12:5 | "But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name, for His dwelling place, and there you shall come." | God's chosen central sanctuary |
| Deut 12:11 | "then there will be a place which the LORD your God chooses... there you shall bring all that I command you..." | Centralization of worship |
| Deut 12:18 | "But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses..." | Eating holy things at chosen place |
| Num 18:21 | "I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance..." | Distinguishes Levite's tithe |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse... And try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven..." | Principle of tithing & blessing |
| 1 Kgs 8:29 | "that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there'..." | God putting His name in the Temple |
| Ps 132:13 | "For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place." | God's choice of a specific place |
| Jer 32:20 | "...who has made Yourself a name, as it is this day..." | God establishing His name/reputation |
| Deut 28:1-8 | "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you..." | God's blessings for obedience |
| Deut 30:9 | "The LORD your God will grant you abundant prosperity in all the work of your hand..." | God's desire to bless His people |
| Ps 104:14-15 | "He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth..." | God provides for all needs |
| Eccl 5:19 | "As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his portion..." | God grants wealth for enjoyment |
| John 4:21 | Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father." | NT shift from specific location to worship |
| John 4:23-24 | "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." | NT emphasis on spiritual worship |
| Acts 7:48 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands..." | NT perspective on God's omnipresence |
| 1 Cor 16:2 | "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper..." | Practicality in New Covenant giving |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." | Emphasis on joyful and willing giving |
| Matt 12:7 | "But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless." | Principle: Mercy over strict literalism |
| Mark 2:27 | And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." | Principle: Law for man's benefit |
Deuteronomy 14 verses
Deuteronomy 14 24 Meaning
Deuteronomy 14:24 provides a practical allowance regarding the annual second tithe. If the distance to the central place chosen by God for His name to dwell is too far for an Israelite to carry all their tithable produce, they are permitted to sell that produce for money. This money would then be taken to the chosen place and used to purchase food and drink to be consumed there in joyful worship before the Lord. The verse acknowledges potential logistical challenges that arise from God's blessing of abundance, ensuring that the law for worship and tithing remains feasible and does not become an undue burden.
Deuteronomy 14 24 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 14 outlines laws concerning clean and unclean foods, practices forbidden for the Lord's people (like self-mutilation for the dead), and most significantly, detailed instructions on tithing. Verses 22-29 focus specifically on the tithe of agricultural produce (the second tithe or ma'aser sheni). The overarching context is Moses's final address to Israel before they enter the Promised Land, reinforcing the covenant laws and reminding them of their unique identity as God's chosen people.Historically, the Israelites were about to transition from nomadic life to an agrarian society settled across a wide territory. The command to bring a significant portion of their produce annually to a central sanctuary posed practical logistical challenges. This verse directly addresses those difficulties, demonstrating divine foresight and practicality in the implementation of the law. It pre-empts situations where adherence would be overly burdensome due to geography or harvest abundance, highlighting God's understanding of human limitations while upholding the principle of tithing and centralized worship.
Deuteronomy 14 24 Word analysis
- And if: (W’kiy). Connects to previous verses, introducing a conditional clause, indicating a specific situation requiring a particular response within the existing law. It highlights a pragmatic allowance within the divine command.
- the way: (ha-derekh). Refers to the physical journey or path from one's residence to the central sanctuary. Implies a journey with associated effort and time.
- is too long for you: (raqah mim'ka - 'too far from you', a nuance often rendered 'too long for you' implying a stretched out, extended journey). Signifies considerable distance, making physical transport impractical. This acknowledges human limitations and geographic realities.
- so that you are not able: (lo tukhal). Denotes physical or practical inability, emphasizing the constraint. It highlights an act of divine empathy, foreseeing potential burdens.
- to carry it: (la-seth 'oto). Refers to carrying the actual produce. In ancient agrarian societies, this involved substantial bulk and weight, liable to spoilage over long distances and extended travel times.
- because: (kiy). Introduces the reason for the difficulty – the location of the divinely appointed sanctuary.
- the place: (ha-maqom). Refers to a specific, unique location God designates. Later understood as Shiloh, then Jerusalem.
- where the Lord your God: (asher YHWH Eloheykha). Emphasizes the divine source and authority behind the selection of the place. Highlights God's personal relationship with Israel through the covenant. YHWH (Yahweh), the personal name of God, underscores His sovereign choice.
- chooses: (yivchar). Signifies a divine, deliberate, and singular selection. It's not a human decision but a sacred designation, underscoring the holiness and unique nature of the central sanctuary.
- to put his name: (la-sum sh'mo sham). This phrase is highly significant. It does not mean God’s omnipresent being is confined there, but that His unique presence, authority, reputation, and worship are centrally acknowledged and manifested there. It represents where God has chosen to make Himself known to His people in a special covenantal way, where His power is displayed and where He is legitimately invoked. It reinforces the singularity of worship and combats idolatry.
- is too far from you: (rachok mim'ka - 'far from you'). Repetition emphasizes the spatial remoteness as the root cause of the logistical difficulty. It reiterates the physical impediment.
- when the Lord your God blesses you: (kiy y'varechecha YHWH Eloheykha). Crucial condition. The ability to tithe implies God has first granted abundance. It grounds the tithe in God's prior gracious provision and prosperity, reminding the giver that all blessings originate from Him. This implies worship stems from gratitude for divine favor.
Deuteronomy 14 24 Bonus section
This provision for converting produce to money facilitated early forms of market economy in Israel. It required a system of buying and selling and likely fostered interactions among the Israelites at the central sanctuary beyond just ritualistic worship, creating a shared community experience around economic exchange tied to their spiritual obligations. The emphasis on God's "choosing to put his name" (not 'where He lives' literally) is a theological safeguard against anthropomorphic ideas of God being contained in a building, highlighting instead that the sanctuary is where His covenant presence and authority are uniquely manifest for Israel's worship. This specific tithe, ma'aser sheni, was unique because it was to be consumed by the tither and their family, including the Levites who had no land inheritance, thus creating an occasion for festive communal worship, reminding all of God's abundant provision and bringing joy in His presence (Deut 12:12; 14:26-27). This contrasts with the Levite's tithe (Num 18), which sustained the priests and Levites.
Deuteronomy 14 24 Commentary
Deuteronomy 14:24 serves as a profound testament to God's wise and practical nature in His divine law. While establishing a firm command for the second tithe to be consumed at a central, chosen place of worship, God foresaw the logistical challenges His people would face across varied geographies. The verse offers a pragmatic solution: convert the produce into money, transport the money, and then purchase food for communal feasting and joyous worship at the sanctuary. This not only alleviated potential hardship but also prevented the law from becoming a prohibitive burden that might discourage participation. It underscores that God's ordinances are given not to oppress but to guide and bless His people, accommodating human realities while still demanding obedience. This flexibility encourages faithful adherence and promotes cheerful giving, reminding Israel that their prosperity itself is a gift from God. The command ensures centralization of worship, solidifying their unique identity and preventing localized syncretism, all while valuing human effort and resources within His divine economy.