Deuteronomy 14:26 kjv
And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
Deuteronomy 14:26 nkjv
And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
Deuteronomy 14:26 niv
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.
Deuteronomy 14:26 esv
and spend the money for whatever you desire ? oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.
Deuteronomy 14:26 nlt
When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want ? cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and celebrate with your household.
Deuteronomy 14 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 12:5-7 | "But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses... There you shall bring your burnt offerings..." | Establishes central place of worship. |
| Deut 12:11-12 | "then to the place which the Lord your God chooses... there you shall rejoice before the Lord your God..." | Reinforces rejoicing at the chosen place. |
| Deut 12:17-18 | "You may not eat within your gates... but you shall eat them before the Lord your God..." | Mandates specific offerings and tithes eaten at sanctuary. |
| Deut 14:22-23 | "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain... and you shall eat it before the Lord your God..." | Initial instruction for tithing grain, emphasizing eating it before God. |
| Deut 14:24-25 | "And if the journey is too long for you... then you shall turn it into money..." | The preceding context for redeeming the tithe for money. |
| Deut 14:27 | "You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates..." | Includes the Levite in the celebration and provision. |
| Deut 16:11 | "You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter..." | Broader command to rejoice at festivals. |
| Deut 16:14-15 | "You shall rejoice in your feast... because the Lord your God will bless you..." | Connects rejoicing directly with God's blessings and feasts. |
| Lev 27:30-33 | "And all the tithe of the land... is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord." | Fundamental principle of tithing and its holiness. |
| Num 18:21-24 | "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel..." | Priestly portion and purpose of tithes for Levites. |
| 1 Chr 29:9-14 | "Then the people rejoiced... and King David also rejoiced with great joy... 'Who am I, and what is my people?'" | Example of corporate rejoicing and acknowledging God as the giver. |
| Neh 8:9-12 | "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength... go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet..." | Commanded joy and sharing provision after hearing the law. |
| Ps 37:4 | "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." | Connecting righteous desire with God's provision. |
| Prov 20:1 | "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." | Warning against excessive use of the permitted drinks. |
| Prov 23:20-21 | "Do not mix with winebibbers... For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty..." | Encouragement for moderation in consumption. |
| Isa 25:6 | "And in this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine..." | Prophetic vision of a future feast with God, echoing celebratory abundance. |
| John 2:1-11 | "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory..." | Jesus provides abundant wine at a wedding, sanctifying celebration. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." | General principle of God's bountiful provision. |
| Eph 5:18 | "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit..." | New Testament principle of soberness and being filled by the Spirit instead of earthly substances. |
| Col 2:16 | "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths..." | New Covenant perspective on specific dietary or feast regulations, emphasizing Christian freedom. |
| 1 Tim 4:4-5 | "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving..." | Broad principle that God's good gifts, including food and drink, are for thankful reception. |
| 1 Tim 5:23 | "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake..." | Example of responsible use of wine for health, balancing against misuse. |
| Heb 12:2 | "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured..." | Focuses on ultimate spiritual joy in Christ, providing a spiritual parallel to the earthly feast's joy. |
Deuteronomy 14 verses
Deuteronomy 14 26 Meaning
Deuteronomy 14:26 details the appropriate use of redeemed tithe money. If a person's dwelling place is too far to bring the physical tithe to the central sanctuary, they are permitted to sell it for money. This money is then to be spent on anything they desire for a celebratory feast, including cattle, sheep, wine, or strong drink. The key directive is that this consumption must take place "before the Lord your God" at the sanctuary, resulting in shared joy and celebration among the individual and their entire household, recognizing God's abundant provision and presence.
Deuteronomy 14 26 Context
Deuteronomy 14 is a part of Moses' second speech, given to the new generation of Israelites on the plains of Moab before entering the Promised Land. This chapter focuses on what defines Israel's unique identity as God's holy people, encompassing dietary laws, tithing, and care for the needy. Verses 22-29 specifically lay out the regulations for the annual tithe, emphasizing its purpose as an act of worship and an expression of gratitude for God's blessings. The immediate preceding verses (Deut 14:24-25) permit converting the physical tithe into money if the journey to the central sanctuary is too far. Verse 26 then provides specific instructions on how this money is to be used, ensuring that the spirit of joy and worship remains intact, even when practicalities require a deviation from the direct bringing of agricultural produce. Historically, this command ensures the economic feasibility of worshipping at a centralized sanctuary for a large and dispersed population, promoting unity and preventing a fragmented religious life where local cults might emerge. It also provides a significant polemic against the often excessive, drunken, or hedonistic feasting rituals found in contemporary pagan worship by strictly stipulating that the rejoicing occurs "before the Lord your God," emphasizing an ordered, reverent joy within the covenant.
Deuteronomy 14 26 Word analysis
- And you shall spend (
wə-nātattā): Hebrew rootnathanmeans "to give" or "to place." Here, in the context of money, it translates to "spend" or "purchase." It is an active instruction, signifying deliberate action according to God's command. - that money (
bakkeseph): Refers specifically to the money obtained from selling the tithed produce mentioned in Deut 14:24-25. It signifies that the monetary value of the tithe retains its sacred character even when converted. - for whatever your heart desires: (
kol-ʾăsher tʾavveh nafšəkā): A highly significant phrase.nafshkā(your soul/life/being) is often translated as "heart" but refers to the entire inner person, including desires, appetite, and will.tʾavveh(to desire/crave/long for) signifies personal preference and enjoyment. This indicates a surprising level of divine generosity, allowing individual choice in the specifics of the celebratory meal, contrasting with rigid requirements often found in religious regulations. It is understood within the broader context of covenantal holiness; "desires" are not meant to imply illicit or harmful things, but choices within the sphere of permitted, good things suitable for a sacred feast before God. - for oxen or sheep: (
babqarûvaṣon): Specifies common types of livestock used for food and sacrifices. These represent abundant, high-quality provision suitable for a joyous feast, indicating a significant and festive meal, not just basic sustenance. - for wine or strong drink: (
ûvəyayinûvəšēkār):yayinis fermented grape wine;šēkāris other fermented beverages, possibly from grains (like beer) or dates. This explicit inclusion shows that partaking in fermented beverages, in moderation, was permissible and part of the communal joy in worship, dispelling notions that all alcohol is inherently sinful in biblical contexts. The emphasis remains on celebration and worship, not intoxication, which the Bible elsewhere condemns. - for whatever your heart desires: Repetition for emphasis. It reiterates the broad permission for selection of celebratory items beyond the examples given, underlining the comprehensive nature of this divine generosity. It emphasizes individual agency within the covenantal framework.
- and you shall eat there before the Lord your God: This is the critical spiritual qualifier. The entire act of purchasing and consuming is not for personal indulgence alone but is consecrated as an act of worship in God's presence at the central sanctuary. It transforms a secular meal into a sacred one, uniting physical sustenance with spiritual communion. "Before the Lord" means acknowledging His ownership and provision, experiencing His blessing and presence.
- and rejoice, you and your household: (
ûśāmachtāʾattāhwəvêyṯekā):Śāmaḥmeans "to be joyful, cheerful, merry." This is the ultimate aim: the tithe system, even in its converted monetary form, is meant to culminate in shared joy and celebration within the family unit and possibly the broader community at the sanctuary. This joy flows from God's blessing, provision, and the communion experienced in His presence. "Household" includes servants, Levites, and the poor (Deut 14:27-29), extending the joy.
Deuteronomy 14 26 Bonus section
The freedom to purchase "whatever your heart desires" is remarkable in an ancient legal text and demonstrates the Lord's intimate concern for the individual's enjoyment. However, this is always implicitly constrained by the larger Mosaic Law and the holy context of a sacred feast before God. It doesn't imply license for sin (e.g., buying items for idol worship or prostitution, which would be contrary to God's character and other laws). Rather, it signifies broad choice within morally permissible boundaries that bring delight in the context of fellowship with God. This provision also subtly underscores the centrality of the appointed place of worship; all consumption related to the tithe, even if converted to money, must be consumed "there" in the presence of the Lord, fostering national unity around one sanctuary and protecting against decentralized idolatrous practices.
Deuteronomy 14 26 Commentary
Deuteronomy 14:26 illustrates God's practical wisdom and overflowing generosity. Recognizing the logistical challenges for Israelites living far from the designated worship place, God permits converting agricultural tithes into money, which can then be used to purchase food and drink at the central sanctuary. This isn't merely a loophole; it’s an intentional design for promoting participation and genuine joy in worship. The striking phrase "whatever your heart desires" showcases a divine benevolence that values individual preferences and ensures that worship is not a burdensome duty but a joyous occasion. This freedom is significant; it underscores that true devotion embraces life’s enjoyments as gifts from God, integrated into a relationship with Him. The pivotal condition, "before the Lord your God," transforms what could be a secular feast into a sacred one, acknowledging divine provision and fellowship. The command to "rejoice, you and your household," emphasizes the communal, familial, and joyous nature of Israelite worship, distinguishing it sharply from rigid, joyless rites or the debauchery of pagan rituals. It ensures that God's people celebrate His blessings with genuine happiness, unity, and a clear understanding of their dependence on Him.Examples: A farmer living far away sells his tenth of grain. With the money, he travels to Jerusalem, purchases a specific cut of lamb he enjoys, some fine wine, and delicious bread, and then shares a festive meal with his family in front of the Tabernacle/Temple, offering prayers of thanksgiving and rejoicing in God's bounty. This practice allows for adaptability (e.g., choice of meat, drink) within the overarching framework of worshipping God with joyful hearts.