Deuteronomy 16 11

Deuteronomy 16:11 kjv

And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

Deuteronomy 16:11 nkjv

You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.

Deuteronomy 16:11 niv

And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name?you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your towns, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows living among you.

Deuteronomy 16:11 esv

And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there.

Deuteronomy 16:11 nlt

This is a time to celebrate before the LORD your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 11 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:11 commands a specific type of joy to be expressed before the LORD God during the appointed festivals. This joy is not a private feeling but a communal act of worship, mandating the inclusion of all members of society, particularly those who are often marginalized – family, servants, Levites, sojourners, the fatherless, and widows. This rejoicing must take place at the central sanctuary chosen by the LORD, where His name is to dwell.

Deuteronomy 16 11 Context

Deuteronomy 16:11 is found within the section outlining the three major annual pilgrimage festivals: the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost or Shavuot), and the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles or Sukkot). Specifically, verse 11 details the required components of rejoicing for the Feast of Weeks, though its principles apply to all three. This feast celebrated the wheat harvest and commemorated the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (as understood in later tradition).

The broader context of Deuteronomy is a series of Moses' farewell speeches to the generation of Israelites poised to enter the Promised Land. It re-presents and expounds upon the Law given at Sinai, adapting it for life in the land. A key theme is covenant loyalty to the one true God, which includes social justice and ethical behavior towards all members of society, particularly the vulnerable. The command for centralized worship counters the pagan practices of dispersed worship sites and idolatry.

Deuteronomy 16 11 Word analysis

• And you shall rejoice (וְשָׂמַחְתָּ – w’samachta): From the root samach, meaning "to be joyful, glad, to make merry." This is a commanded joy, not merely a spontaneous emotion, but an intentional, cultic celebration before God. It reflects deep contentment and gratitude for God's blessings, provision, and deliverance, essential for expressing covenant relationship.
• before the LORD your God (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ – lifnei YHWH Eloheykha): Signifies rejoicing in the presence of the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It emphasizes that this joy is directed towards Him, in His appointed sanctuary, acknowledging His sovereignty and goodness. "LORD" (YHWH) stresses His personal name and faithfulness; "your God" emphasizes the covenant relationship.
• you (אַתָּה – attah): Refers to the head of the household, the male Israelite obligated to attend the festivals, serving as the primary responsible party.
• and your son (וּבִנְךָ – uvincha): Inclusion of the next generation, signifying the passing down of covenant participation and the joy of worship through families.
• and your daughter (וּבִתֶּךָ – uvit'techa): Explicit inclusion of females in the communal celebration, a detail emphasizing full household participation, not just males.
• and your male servant (וְעַבְדְּךָ – v’avdecha): Bondservants and employees are to be included, highlighting God’s concern for all within an Israelite household, regardless of social status.
• and your female servant (וַאֲמָתֶךָ – va’amatecha): Similar to male servants, ensuring female bondservants are not excluded from this commanded blessing and participation in covenant life.
• and the Levite (וְהַלֵּוִי – v'haLevi): The priestly tribe, without a territorial inheritance, depended on the generosity and tithes of the people. Their inclusion ensures their well-being and signifies their integral role in the sacred services.
• who is within your gates (אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ – asher bish'areykha): Refers to anyone residing within the Israelite cities/communities. This extends the responsibility of inclusion beyond one's immediate household to the broader communal context.
• and the sojourner (וְהַגֵּר – v'haGer): A non-Israelite resident alien or foreigner living among the Israelites. Highly vulnerable without clan protection, their inclusion showcases God's compassionate justice and Israel's ethical duty, recalling Israel's own sojourning in Egypt.
• and the fatherless (וְהַיָּתוֹם – v'hayatom): An orphan, often without a guardian or legal protector, hence exceptionally vulnerable. Their inclusion reflects God's special care for the weak and emphasizes communal responsibility.
• and the widow (וְהָאַלְמָנָה – v'ha'almanah): A woman whose husband has died, leaving her without immediate male provision or protection in a patriarchal society. Like the fatherless, she is explicitly mentioned as a recipient of this commanded inclusive joy and provision.
• who are among you (אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבֶּךָ – asher b'qirbeka): Reinforces the communal nature and the internal obligation of Israelite society to care for and include its marginalized members.
• in the place that the LORD your God shall choose (בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ – bammāqôm asher yivchar YHWH Eloheykha): Establishes the requirement of centralized worship at a single divinely appointed sanctuary (eventually Jerusalem), promoting unity of worship and preventing idolatry or unauthorized religious practices. It removes discretion from humans regarding where to worship Him.
• to make his name dwell there (לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם – l'shakken sh'mo sham): God's "name" represents His character, authority, and presence. While God's omnipresence means He is everywhere, His "dwelling name" in a specific place signifies a designated locus for His special revelation, worship, and encounter with His people, a place where His presence is uniquely manifest and acknowledged.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God": This phrase emphasizes that the joy commanded is a sacred, communal act directed towards God in His presence, indicating both worship and gratitude. It's a fulfillment of covenant duty, reflecting a proper spiritual attitude.
• "you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are among you": This expansive list demonstrates a radically inclusive vision for community worship. It systematically includes the entire household (master, children, servants) and then expands to those typically on the margins of society, highlighting a social justice imperative integral to worship and reflecting God's own character as protector of the vulnerable.
• "in the place that the LORD your God shall choose to make his name dwell there": This phrase underlines the divine prerogative in establishing the location of true worship, centralizing it to ensure purity, unity, and proper obedience to God's commands. The "dwelling of His name" signifies that His authority and covenant presence are uniquely manifest there, inviting proper reverence and a unified corporate worship experience.

Deuteronomy 16 11 Bonus section

The commanded joy of Deuteronomy 16:11 served as a powerful counter-cultural statement. Surrounding pagan cultures often indulged in revelry with immoral aspects. Israel's mandated joy was distinct: it was a God-centered, disciplined joy rooted in the recognition of divine covenant faithfulness and provision, characterized by righteous conduct and communal sharing. This verse provides an early blueprint for what a just and compassionate faith community looks like, predating and anticipating the New Testament vision of a community where traditional societal distinctions are overcome by spiritual unity in Christ, where all are welcomed into the family of God for worship and fellowship.

Deuteronomy 16 11 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:11 presents a profound mandate for worship rooted in commanded joy and radical inclusivity. This joy is not a passive emotion but an active expression of gratitude and obedience, performed "before the LORD" at His chosen sanctuary. This directive counters self-centered or individualistic spiritual expression by emphasizing communal celebration, bringing all within the household and the community—especially the vulnerable—into the sacred space of divine encounter. The inclusion of Levites, sojourners, fatherless, and widows highlights God's pervasive concern for social justice, reminding Israel that their worship is intrinsically linked to their ethical treatment of others. The centralization of worship at "the place... chosen to make His name dwell there" ensures unity, prevents syncretism with pagan practices, and provides a shared focal point for the collective identity and covenant life of Israel. It serves as a reminder that genuine worship must extend beyond mere ritual to embody compassionate community life.