Deuteronomy 14 28

Deuteronomy 14:28 kjv

At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:

Deuteronomy 14:28 nkjv

"At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates.

Deuteronomy 14:28 niv

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns,

Deuteronomy 14:28 esv

"At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns.

Deuteronomy 14:28 nlt

"At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year's harvest and store it in the nearest town.

Deuteronomy 14 verses

Deuteronomy 14 28 Meaning

At the culmination of every three-year cycle, specifically during the third and sixth years leading up to the sabbatical year, the full tenth of the produce yielded during that year was to be brought forth and gathered locally within the towns. This particular tithe was designated not for consumption in Jerusalem, but as a provision for the Levites, who had no land inheritance, and for the vulnerable segments of the community: the resident foreigners (sojourners), the fatherless (orphans), and the widows. They were to come, eat from these provisions, and be fully satisfied, ensuring their well-being. This act of communal charity and obedience was directly tied to a divine promise: the Lord God would bless the Israelites in all the work of their hands as a result.

Deuteronomy 14 28 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 14 re-establishes critical laws for Israel as they prepare to enter the promised land, emphasizing their distinct identity as God's holy people. It begins with dietary regulations that separate them from other nations and continues with detailed instructions regarding tithing. This chapter outlines two primary tithes: an annual general tithe of produce and livestock (vv. 22-27), meant to be consumed by the household at a festive meal in Jerusalem before the Lord, or exchanged for money to be used there; and the specific third-year tithe detailed in verse 28. This third-year tithe is a communal and social welfare tithe, ensuring the poor and marginalized within their local gates are provided for. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures did not have a systematic, religiously mandated welfare system like Israel's, which reflects Yahweh's unique concern for justice and the vulnerable, often absent or neglected in pagan societal structures. This law thus serves as a powerful polemic against any belief system that ignores or exploits the poor.

Deuteronomy 14 28 Word analysis

• At the end of every three years (מִקְּצֵה שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים - miqqetseh shalosh shanim): Literally "from the end of three years." This doesn't imply at the absolute termination, but rather "in the course of the third year" or "at the close of a three-year cycle." This tithe was designated for the third and sixth years within the seven-year agricultural cycle, before the sabbatical year when the land lay fallow. It highlights a structured, recurring system of giving.
• you shall bring out (תוֹצִיא - totzi): An active, deliberate action of separating and bringing forth. It implies extraction from one's personal abundance.
• all the tithe (כָּל מַעְשַׂר - kol ma'asar): Emphasizes completeness; not just a part, but the entire designated tenth. "Ma'asar" signifies the divinely mandated tenth, acknowledging God's ultimate ownership.
• of your produce (תְּבוּאָתְךָ - tevua'atkha): Refers to the yield of the field – grain, wine, oil, essentially the staples of life. This ensured the provision was from the basic necessities.
• in that year (בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִיא - bashanah hahi): Specifies the year for collection, underscoring its cyclical nature and distinctiveness from the annual tithe for consumption in Jerusalem.
• and store it up within your gates (וְהִנַּחְתָּ בְשַׁעֲרֶיךָ - vehinnachta vesha'arekha): "Store it up" means to lay it down or deposit it, indicating it's gathered in a central location for accessibility. "Within your gates" refers to the towns or settlements, emphasizing localized distribution for convenience of the beneficiaries, rather than a journey to a central sanctuary.
• and the Levite (וְהַלֵּוִי - vehallewi): Members of the priestly tribe who received no tribal land inheritance, their sustenance was dependent upon the tithes of the other tribes. They represent those dedicated to God's service and relying on communal support.
• the sojourner (הַגֵּר - hag_ger): A resident alien or foreigner living within Israelite communities, often without tribal or familial land, and thus particularly vulnerable. God consistently commands care for them, reminding Israel of their own past as sojourners in Egypt (Dt 10:19).
• the fatherless (הַיָּתוֹם - hayyatom): Orphans, specifically those without a father to provide and protect. They represent profound social vulnerability, highlighting God's concern for those without typical family support.
• and the widow (וְהָאַלְמָנָה - veha'almanah): Women whose husbands had died, often leaving them without legal or financial standing in a patriarchal society. They are a constant object of God's special care and Israel's responsibility.
• who are within your gates (אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ - asher bisha'arekha): Reiterates the local focus of this specific tithe distribution, ensuring those most in need in their immediate communities were cared for.
• shall come and eat and be satisfied (וְאָכְלוּ וְשָׂבֵעוּ - ve'akhlu vesave'u): Emphasizes not just a meager handout, but abundant provision until satiation. It points to a fullness of provision that addresses genuine need, reflecting God's generosity.
• that the Lord your God may bless you (לְמַעַן יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - lema'an yevarekhekha Adonai Elohekha): The stated purpose and divine consequence. Obedience to God's command regarding this social justice tithe results in tangible blessings on all the labor of their hands. It demonstrates a covenantal reciprocity between divine blessing and human faithfulness in generosity.

Deuteronomy 14 28 Bonus section

The specific arrangement of tithing in Deuteronomy indicates a sophisticated, multi-faceted approach to stewardship and communal care. While a general tithe went to the Levites as their inheritance (Num 18), and a "second tithe" was for annual celebration with family in Jerusalem (Dt 14:22-27), this "third-year tithe" directly addressed systemic poverty and vulnerability at the local level. It was a physical reminder to the Israelites that all their prosperity came from God, and a portion was designated not just for sacred worship but for human need. This three-tiered system reflects a holistic understanding of wealth management under God's covenant: honoring God with sacred offerings, celebrating His provision in fellowship, and demonstrating love for neighbor through practical support. The command to care for the sojourner is especially profound, reflecting Israel's own experience as aliens in Egypt (Ex 23:9; Dt 10:19), urging empathy based on their history of vulnerability. The "satisfaction" promised to the needy beneficiaries emphasizes the quality and sufficiency of the provision, aligning with God's character as a generous provider who fills what is empty and satisfies what hungers.

Deuteronomy 14 28 Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:28 provides a clear mandate for Israel's social welfare system, distinct from the other tithing practices. This "poor tithe" or "third-year tithe" was not taken to the central sanctuary but was stored locally for the specific benefit of the Levites, who had no land, and the most vulnerable members of society: the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. This provision underscores God's deep and active concern for social justice and the marginalized, embodying the very heart of the Mosaic Law. It moved beyond simple charity, instituting a mandatory and structured system to prevent destitution and ensure basic dignity. The emphasis on "within your gates" speaks to localized responsibility, while "eat and be satisfied" denotes genuine and adequate provision, not mere subsistence. This systematic care for the community's weaker members was a direct act of worship and obedience, with a clear promise of divine blessing. It teaches that true worship involves not just ritual but also ethical conduct, practical compassion, and faithful stewardship of resources. The giving was not merely transactional, but transformational, aiming to satisfy the needy and draw forth God's favor.