Deuteronomy 16:13 kjv
Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
Deuteronomy 16:13 nkjv
"You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress.
Deuteronomy 16:13 niv
Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress.
Deuteronomy 16:13 esv
"You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress.
Deuteronomy 16:13 nlt
"You must observe the Festival of Shelters for seven days at the end of the harvest season, after the grain has been threshed and the grapes have been pressed.
Deuteronomy 16 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 23:34 | "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD." | Detailed instructions for Sukkot's timing. |
| Exod 23:16 | "And the feast of harvest...which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field." | Early reference to Feast of Ingathering (Sukkot). |
| Exod 34:22 | "And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end." | Confirms Sukkot as the "Feast of Ingathering." |
| Num 29:12-38 | Detailed instructions for daily sacrifices during Sukkot. | Prescribed offerings during the feast. |
| Lev 23:42-43 | "Ye shall dwell in booths seven days...That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt..." | Reason for dwelling in booths – remembering Exodus. |
| Neh 8:14-18 | "And they found written in the law...that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month...So the people went forth, and brought, and made themselves booths..." | Post-exilic celebration of Sukkot, adhering to the law. |
| Deut 16:14-15 | "And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast...because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy increase, and in all the work of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice." | Emphasizes joy and blessing during the feast. |
| Deut 16:16 | "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles..." | Sukkot as one of the three pilgrim feasts. |
| 1 Kgs 8:2, 65-66 | "And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month...And Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days." | Temple dedication during Sukkot. |
| 2 Chron 7:8-10 | "Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation..." | Parallel account of Temple dedication at Sukkot. |
| Ezra 3:4 | "They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;" | Keeping Sukkot after returning from exile. |
| Zech 14:16 | "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." | Eschatological prophecy of all nations celebrating Sukkot. |
| Zech 14:17-19 | Prophecies concerning nations failing to keep Sukkot. | Consequence for not observing Sukkot in the future. |
| John 7:2, 10, 37 | "Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand...But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast...In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." | Jesus attends and teaches during Sukkot. |
| John 8:12 | "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." | Said by Jesus, likely during the "lighting of the temple" ceremony of Sukkot. |
| Heb 11:9-10 | "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." | Spiritual meaning of dwelling in temporary shelters. |
| Heb 11:13-16 | "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off...confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth...For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." | Further reinforces the idea of believers as pilgrims in temporary dwellings. |
| Rev 7:9 | "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude...stood before the throne...and palms in their hands;" | Recalls the Sukkot ritual of holding palm branches (lulav). |
| Amos 5:21 | "I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies." | Prophetic critique of observing feasts without true heart/justice. |
| Jer 33:11 | "The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness...for I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD." | Theme of joy associated with restoration, reflective of Sukkot. |
| Isa 12:3 | "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." | Evokes the water-drawing ceremony (Nisuch HaMayim) during Sukkot. |
| Psa 118:27-28 | "God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee." | Could relate to Sukkot's theme of light and offerings. |
Deuteronomy 16 verses
Deuteronomy 16 13 Meaning
Deuteronomy 16:13 commands the Israelites to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) for seven days. This celebration is explicitly timed to occur after the completion of the grain and wine harvests, serving as a joyous festival of thanksgiving for God's provision and a historical remembrance of their forty years of dwelling in temporary booths during their wilderness journey.
Deuteronomy 16 13 Context
Deuteronomy 16 falls within the section of the book that reiterates the laws given at Mount Sinai, preparing the Israelites for life in the promised land. Moses, speaking to a new generation, emphasizes the covenant obligations, including proper worship. Verses 1-17 specifically detail the three major annual pilgrim festivals: Passover (and Unleavened Bread), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles. This verse specifically addresses the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Ingathering.
Historically, this feast served as a crucial reminder of Israel's journey through the wilderness, where they lived in temporary shelters after their miraculous deliverance from Egypt. It provided a stark contrast to the stable, agrarian life they were about to begin in Canaan, reminding them of God's constant provision even in precarious conditions. Culturally, harvest festivals were common in the Ancient Near East, but Israel's Feast of Tabernacles stood unique by centering on the sovereignty and benevolence of Yahweh, their God, and His historical redemption, rather than on pagan deities or mere natural cycles. It served as a polemic against the fertility cults of Canaan, asserting that blessing came from God alone, not from idols or human effort without divine favor.
Deuteronomy 16 13 Word analysis
- Thou shalt observe: From the Hebrew word chagag (חגג), which means "to keep a feast," "to celebrate," or "to dance." It carries the connotation of a sacred celebration, a solemn, yet joyful pilgrimage to the appointed place, implying a mandated participation and outward demonstration of faith. It's not merely to note, but to actively participate in the festival as a binding commandment.
- the feast of tabernacles: In Hebrew, Chag Sukkot (חג סֻכּוֹת). Chag means "feast" or "pilgrimage festival." Sukkot literally means "booths," "huts," or "tabernacles." This name directly reflects the historical practice of living in temporary dwellings for seven days. This name highlights the dual nature of the feast: both a thanksgiving for the harvest and a remembrance of divine provision during the wilderness journey.
- seven days: This specified duration emphasizes completeness and sacredness. Seven is a number of divine perfection and covenant in biblical numerology. It underscores the importance of fully engaging in the commanded period of remembrance and celebration.
- after that thou hast gathered in: This phrase denotes the timing of the feast, making it a culminating harvest festival. It signifies the completion of the agricultural cycle, ensuring that the celebrants could give thanks for the entirety of their year's produce before entering a period of rest. It also highlights that this celebration of God's goodness follows the diligence of human labor.
- thy corn and thy wine: Represents the primary agricultural products of the land. "Corn" refers to grain (wheat, barley), and "wine" refers to grapes, indicating the grape harvest and olive harvest as well. These are foundational staples and luxuries in an agrarian society. Their inclusion signifies the completeness of the harvest and the abundant provision from God. It serves as a comprehensive acknowledgement of all agricultural bounty.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days": This phrase combines the imperative to celebrate a specific, divinely ordained festival (Chag Sukkot) for a precise duration (seven days). It establishes the Feast of Tabernacles not as an optional custom, but as a non-negotiable commandment from God, linking worship with communal, historical remembrance.
- "after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine": This clarifies the immediate occasion and context of the feast. It's a post-harvest celebration, emphasizing gratitude for God's material blessings and prosperity given to an agrarian people. It sets the feast as the culmination of the agricultural year, distinct from Passover (spring) and Weeks (early summer) which mark earlier stages.
Deuteronomy 16 13 Bonus section
The Feast of Tabernacles was unique among the pilgrim feasts for its heightened emphasis on joy. Deuteronomy 16:14-15 directly follows, commanding intense rejoicing during this festival, explicitly including the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow—underscoring its communal and inclusive nature. This "Feast of Ingathering" was seen as a time of national rest and celebration, marking the end of a busy agricultural cycle. Furthermore, in later Jewish tradition, particularly during the Second Temple period, elaborate water-drawing ceremonies (Nisuch HaMayim) and temple illuminations became prominent parts of Sukkot, believed to invoke God's blessing for rain and signifying the spiritual light of His presence. This background deeply enriches the significance of Jesus' pronouncements in John 7:37-38 about living water and John 8:12 about being the light of the world, spoken precisely during this feast. The future prophetic fulfillment of Sukkot in Zechariah 14:16-19 envisions a time when all nations will go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, by keeping this very feast, highlighting its enduring eschatological relevance and messianic implications. It points towards the ultimate dwelling of God with man, when the "tabernacle of God is with men" (Rev 21:3).
Deuteronomy 16 13 Commentary
Deuteronomy 16:13 succinctly mandates the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles, anchoring it to both Israel's agricultural year and its redemptive history. This command required the Israelites to actively "observe" (chagag) the festival for seven complete days, emphasizing not just attendance but joyful, communal participation. The timing of the feast, "after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine," explicitly links it to the conclusion of the final major harvests. This agricultural context underscored God's faithful provision, making the feast a grand occasion for thanksgiving for the bounty of the land. Concurrently, the nature of "Tabernacles" or "Booths" (Sukkot) served as a profound historical remembrance of Israel's journey through the wilderness, where they lived in temporary dwellings, totally dependent on God for forty years. Thus, the feast harmonized present blessing with past divine faithfulness, fostering humility and dependence while encouraging joyful celebration in God's ongoing grace. It served as a vibrant communal expression of worship, gratitude, and remembrance of God's redemptive work.
Examples:
- Gratitude for Provision: A family celebrating a plentiful harvest season by intentionally giving thanks to God for all their food, not just seeing it as a result of their own labor.
- Remembering God's Deliverance: Reflecting on past times of difficulty and remembering how God faithfully provided, akin to the Israelites remembering their wilderness wanderings.
- Embracing Simplicity: Deliberately choosing a week to simplify daily routines and rely more directly on God, remembering the temporary nature of earthly dwellings and comforts.