Deuteronomy 16 10

Deuteronomy 16:10 kjv

And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Deuteronomy 16:10 nkjv

Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.

Deuteronomy 16:10 niv

Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.

Deuteronomy 16:10 esv

Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.

Deuteronomy 16:10 nlt

Then celebrate the Festival of Harvest to honor the LORD your God. Bring him a voluntary offering in proportion to the blessings you have received from him.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 10 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:10 instructs the Israelites to observe the Feast of Weeks by offering a freewill gift to the Lord their God. This offering was to be given proportionally, reflecting the degree to which God had blessed them, symbolizing gratitude and dependence on His continued provision. It was a joyful, communal celebration of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, acknowledging God as the source of all abundance.

Deuteronomy 16 10 Context

Deuteronomy 16 commands Israel to observe three annual pilgrim festivals: Passover/Unleavened Bread (vv. 1-8), the Feast of Weeks (vv. 9-12), and the Feast of Booths (vv. 13-17). These festivals served as anchors in the covenant life of Israel, demanding communal participation, a pilgrimage to the central sanctuary, and the joyful acknowledgment of God's redemptive work and ongoing provision. Verse 10 specifically addresses the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), occurring fifty days after Passover and the barley harvest, marking the end of the wheat harvest. The historical context for the original audience, freshly emerging from the wilderness and about to enter Canaan, emphasized dependence on God for agricultural prosperity, countering the polytheistic fertility cults of the surrounding Canaanite nations. This festival was a polemic against reliance on Baal and other false gods for harvests, stressing Yahweh alone as the true Provider.

Deuteronomy 16 10 Word analysis

• And you shall keep (וְעָשִׂיתָ - ve'asita): The Hebrew verb asah (to do, make, keep, celebrate) conveys an imperative sense of observance and action. It’s not merely a passive recognition but an active carrying out of the divine command, linking back to the seven weeks to be counted in the previous verse.
• the Feast (חַג - chag): Refers to a pilgrim festival, derived from a root meaning "to whirl" or "to dance," indicating joyous and enthusiastic participation, often involving a communal pilgrimage. This emphasizes celebration and movement towards a central place of worship.
• of Weeks (שָׁבֻעוֹת - Shavuot): Literally "weeks," signifying the period of seven weeks counted from the cutting of the first grain (Lev 23:15). In Greek, it is known as Pentecost (meaning "fiftieth"). It marks the completion of the grain harvest, specifically the wheat harvest.
• to the Lord your God (לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - laYahweh Eloheycha): Highlights the exclusive object of worship and giving. It reinforces the covenant relationship – Yahweh as the personal name of God, and Eloheycha as "your God," emphasizing His particular relationship with Israel. The gift is directed solely to Him.
• with a freewill offering (מִסַּת נִדְבַת - missat nidbat):
  • missat: Derived from a root meaning "to lift up," suggesting a contribution or gift. It often implies a measure or portion given.
  • nidbat: Comes from nadab, meaning "to be willing, spontaneous, generous." A "freewill offering" is not a fixed, mandatory tax or sacrifice but a voluntary, spontaneous expression of devotion. It highlights the heart's intention in giving.
• of your hand (יָדְךָ - yadekha): The hand symbolizes capability, personal effort, resources, and power. It signifies that the offering is from one's personal means, from what they have earned or possess. This links the offering to personal industry and ability to contribute.
• which you shall give (אֲשֶׁר תִּתֵּן - asher titten): Reinforces the act of giving. It is an active transfer, indicating intentional and purposeful contribution.
• according as (כְּבִרְכַּת - kevirkat): ke means "according to" or "as," birkat means "blessing of." This phrase establishes the crucial principle of proportionality. The amount of the freewill offering is directly tied to the extent of God’s prior blessing.
• the Lord your God has blessed you (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בֵּרַכְתָּ - Yahweh Eloheycha beyrachta): Attributes the source of all prosperity and success to Yahweh. It grounds the act of giving not in human merit or obligation for its own sake, but as a joyful response to divine grace and prior generosity. This encourages reflection on God's goodness before making the offering.

Deuteronomy 16 10 Bonus section

The Feast of Weeks, known as Shavuot in Hebrew, is traditionally connected not only to the grain harvest but also to the giving of the Law (Torah) at Mount Sinai, which is believed by rabbinic tradition to have occurred during this time. Thus, the offering could also signify gratitude for God's spiritual provision alongside His material provision. Furthermore, the New Testament profoundly reinterprets Shavuot as Pentecost (Acts 2), where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, akin to a "spiritual harvest," fulfills the firstfruits theme of the Old Testament festival. This spiritual gifting allows believers to serve and give in new and empowered ways, continuing the principle of proportional giving based on divine blessing, now interpreted through grace. The emphasis on an inclusive communal rejoicing (Deut 16:11), extending to the stranger, fatherless, and widow, demonstrates that God's blessing is not merely for individual gain but for communal uplift and care for the vulnerable, reinforcing the social justice aspect inherent in Israelite worship.

Deuteronomy 16 10 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:10 encapsulates the profound theological principle of grateful reciprocity within the covenant relationship. It calls Israel to a joyous and voluntary act of giving during the Feast of Weeks, not based on a prescribed amount, but rather proportional to God's demonstrated blessing in their lives. This fosters an attitude of dependence, where all bounty is acknowledged as coming from Yahweh, and an attitude of generosity, as His people reflect His character in their giving. The "freewill offering of your hand" signifies a personal, cheerful contribution from one's actual means, reinforcing that worship involves tangible sacrifice as a response to divine favor. This commanded proportionality served as a living reminder that one's prosperity was directly linked to the Creator, implicitly challenging the common practice of sacrificing to pagan deities for fertility and rain. This instruction promotes heartfelt generosity, where giving is an overflowing response to prior blessing, culminating in communal rejoicing before the Giver of all good things.

• Example 1: A farmer, after a successful harvest, sets aside a significant portion as his offering, proportional to the abundance he received from God.
• Example 2: In modern times, a person who experiences a financial or personal breakthrough acknowledges God's favor and chooses to give a larger, cheerful contribution to His work, recognizing the source of their prosperity.