Deuteronomy 16 14

Deuteronomy 16:14 kjv

And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

Deuteronomy 16:14 nkjv

And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.

Deuteronomy 16:14 niv

Be joyful at your festival?you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns.

Deuteronomy 16:14 esv

You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns.

Deuteronomy 16:14 nlt

This festival will be a happy time of celebrating with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows from your towns.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 14 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:14 commands the Israelite household to rejoice during their annual pilgrimage feasts, explicitly extending this celebration and its accompanying benefits to every member of the family unit, as well as to servants, the Levites, resident foreigners, orphans, and widows. This verse underscores the inclusive and communal nature of God's covenant blessings and the corresponding obligation to share joy and provision with the most vulnerable members of society.

Deuteronomy 16 14 Context

Deuteronomy 16 is part of Moses' farewell speeches, reiterating and explaining God's laws to the new generation of Israelites on the brink of entering the Promised Land. The chapter details the regulations for the three annual pilgrimage festivals: Passover and Unleavened Bread (Pesach and Matzot), the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and the Feast of Booths (Sukkot). These festivals were central to Israel's national identity and worship, serving as annual reminders of God's deliverance, provision, and covenant faithfulness. Verse 14 falls specifically within the instruction for the Feast of Booths (Deut 16:13-15), often considered the most joyful of the feasts, celebrating the harvest and commemorating God's provision during their wilderness journey in temporary dwellings. The injunction to include all members of the community emphasizes that the joy and blessing derived from these festivals are meant to be universally shared within the covenant community.

Deuteronomy 16 14 Word analysis

• And thou shalt rejoice: (Hebrew: וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֙, v'samachta). The verb śāmach means "to be glad, to rejoice, to be joyful." This is a divine command, not merely an emotional suggestion. It signifies a volitional, outward expression of joy rooted in God's blessings and salvation history, specifically tied to the bounty of the harvest and the remembrance of God's provision during the wilderness wandering. It’s an act of worship.
• in thy feast: (Hebrew: בְּחַגֶּֽךָ, b'chaggeka). Chag refers to a "pilgrimage festival," emphasizing the act of "circuiting" or going up to the designated place (later Jerusalem) for worship. In the context of Deut 16:13-15, this specifically points to the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), but the principle applies to all three main feasts. These were covenant celebrations, not merely secular holidays.
• thou: Refers to the male head of the household, emphasizing personal participation and responsibility in leading the family in obedience.
• and thy son, and thy daughter: The inclusion of children signifies the intergenerational transmission of faith and covenant identity. Children were integral participants in worship and the communal life of Israel.
• and thy manservant, and thy maidservant: These refer to household bondservants. Their inclusion underscores a radical principle of God's law: human dignity transcends social status. The master was commanded to ensure even the servants under his authority experienced the joy and rest of the feast, contrasting sharply with oppressive labor practices common in the ancient world (cf. Ex 20:10).
• and the Levite that is within thy gates: Levites did not inherit land among the tribes; their sustenance came from tithes and communal support (Num 18:21-24; Deut 14:28-29). Their specific inclusion highlights the community's responsibility to care for those dedicated to God's service and dependent on the community's generosity. "Within thy gates" implies the local Levite living in their town, not necessarily a temple priest.
• and the stranger: (Hebrew: וְהַגֵּר, v'hagger). This term denotes a resident alien, a non-Israelite who had chosen to live among the Israelites. God's law consistently mandated care and fair treatment for the stranger, reminding Israel of their own history as sojourners in Egypt (Ex 22:21; Lev 19:33-34). Their inclusion in feasting demonstrated God's broad hospitality.
• and the fatherless: (Hebrew: וְהַיָּתוֹם, v'hayyatom). Orphans, typically those without a father, making them extremely vulnerable in an ancient patriarchal society without a male provider or protector.
• and the widow: (Hebrew: וְהָאַלְמָנָה, v'ha'almanah). Women whose husbands had died, also highly vulnerable without a male head of household or protector to ensure their provision and legal standing.
• that are among you: This phrase emphasizes that these vulnerable individuals are part of the local community. It is a call to active, practical, and localized hospitality and care, ensuring that none within the community are excluded from the covenant blessing of joyful celebration.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast": This forms a central command, making joy a mandatory aspect of worship during the feasts. It signifies that true covenant obedience is not merely ritualistic but infused with a celebratory spirit and gratitude for God's blessings.
• "thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant": This cluster delineates the nuclear family and immediate household, stressing that the celebratory joy should permeate every part of the direct familial and domestic unit. It teaches that the spiritual life is shared within the home.
• "and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow": This crucial grouping highlights the "vulnerable and marginalized" members of society. Their explicit mention signifies God's heart for justice, equity, and compassion. It establishes a societal imperative to actively seek out and include those who are typically powerless, dependent, and often overlooked, ensuring they also share in the communal blessing and celebration. This demonstrates a core social ethic of Israel's law.

Deuteronomy 16 14 Bonus section

• The Feast of Booths (Sukkot) was often referred to simply as "the Feast" due to its preeminent status and universal rejoicing. It was a time of intense joy, with processions, water libations, and abundant feasting, symbolizing God's faithfulness in the wilderness and the future ingathering of the nations.
• The repetitive nature of listing the vulnerable (Levite, stranger, fatherless, widow) throughout Deuteronomy (e.g., Deut 14:29; 24:19-21) underscores their profound significance in God's covenant ethics and the consistent demand for compassion from His people.
• The instruction to rejoice, particularly with those who have no means to celebrate on their own, points to the corporate nature of the covenant with God. Israel was to be a collective witness to God's generosity, not just an aggregate of individuals.

Deuteronomy 16 14 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:14 provides a powerful lens into the divine blueprint for joyful worship and societal well-being. The command to "rejoice" during the pilgrimage festivals (especially Sukkot) transcends mere emotional happiness; it is a profound act of spiritual gratitude and remembrance of God's abundant provision and steadfast faithfulness throughout Israel's history. This commanded joy is communal and explicitly inclusive, moving beyond the nuclear family to embrace the entire household and, crucially, the most vulnerable segments of society: Levites, resident aliens (strangers), orphans, and widows.

This radical inclusivity reflects God's character as a compassionate provider for all, establishing a covenantal society where wealth and blessing are not hoarded but shared generously. By mandating the inclusion of those typically without power or property, the Law counteracted the inherent tendencies of human societies toward exclusion and self-interest. It cultivated a sense of shared destiny and responsibility among the people of God, demonstrating that true spiritual celebration must translate into practical justice and hospitality for the needy within their gates. The joyful sharing during the feasts served as a vivid annual lesson in communal welfare, reminding every Israelite family that their blessings came from God and were to be extended to others as an act of worship and obedience. This principle anticipates the New Testament emphasis on selfless love and care for the "least of these" as expressions of faith.