Deuteronomy 16 15

Deuteronomy 16:15 kjv

Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

Deuteronomy 16:15 nkjv

Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.

Deuteronomy 16:15 niv

For seven days celebrate the festival to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.

Deuteronomy 16:15 esv

For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your God at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.

Deuteronomy 16:15 nlt

For seven days you must celebrate this festival to honor the LORD your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 15 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:15 commands Israel to observe the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) for seven days in the divinely chosen place. The verse highlights that the foundational reason for this festive observance and the accompanying command to rejoice is God's unwavering blessing upon their agricultural produce and all the work of their hands. It underscores the profound link between divine provision, human gratitude, and communal worship, calling for a celebratory response to the Lord's goodness.

Deuteronomy 16 15 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 16 focuses on the three annual pilgrimage festivals—Passover (v. 1-8), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) (v. 9-12), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) (v. 13-17)—which all Israelite males were commanded to attend at "the place which the Lord your God shall choose." These feasts were not only religious observances but also key social and agricultural events. This specific verse (16:15) addresses the Feast of Tabernacles, known as the "Feast of Ingathering," which marked the end of the harvest season (grains, wine, oil) and commemorated the Israelites' forty years of dwelling in booths (temporary shelters) in the wilderness after their Exodus from Egypt. Historically, it was a time of immense gratitude for God's provision and a vivid reminder of His faithfulness throughout their journey and into the promised land. The Deuteronomic context continually emphasizes the centrality of worship at one specific chosen sanctuary (Jerusalem) to unify the nation's worship and prevent pagan influences. The command to rejoice at the chosen place for God's blessing underscores the covenantal relationship where divine blessing calls for an active, joyous response of worship.

Deuteronomy 16 15 Word analysis

• Seven days: Hebrew: shib’ah yâmîm (שִׁבְעָה יָמִים). The number seven often signifies completion, perfection, or divine order in biblical numerology. Here, it denotes the specific, mandated duration for the full observance of the festival, ensuring sufficient time for communal worship, thanksgiving, and rest.
• shalt thou keep a solemn feast: Hebrew: tāchōḡ (תָּחֹג), from the root chāgâ (חָגַג). This verb means "to keep a pilgrim feast," "to celebrate," or "to go in a sacred procession." It is specifically used for these three annual pilgrimage festivals. It implies an active, communal observance involving travel to a central sanctuary, distinguishing it from private celebration. It's a joyful, reverent movement towards God's appointed place. The term "solemn" here points to the sacred nature of the occasion, not sadness, but respectful and weighty importance.
• unto the LORD thy God: Hebrew: lē-Yahweh ’ĕlōheykā (לַֽיהוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ). This phrase emphasizes that the object of worship and gratitude is exclusively Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It sets apart their worship from pagan practices and identifies the unique relationship between God and His people, bound by covenant promises and obligations.
• in the place which the LORD shall choose: Hebrew: bam·mā·qōm ’ă·šer yib·ḥar Yahweh (בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה). This is a central and distinctive theme in Deuteronomy, pointing to a singular, divinely designated sanctuary (later Jerusalem/Temple) for national worship. It counters decentralized, unauthorized, or idolatrous forms of worship, promoting national unity and doctrinal purity. God's choice highlights His sovereignty and wisdom in establishing proper worship.
• because: Hebrew: kî (כִּי). This conjunction introduces the divine rationale or justification for the command. It reveals that the obligation to celebrate is directly tied to a preceding act of God—His blessing. It’s not an arbitrary command but a logical response to God's benevolence.
• the LORD thy God shall bless thee: Hebrew: Yahweh ’ĕlōheykā yəbārekəkā (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ יְבָרֶכְךָ). "Bless" (bārak) means to empower for prosperity, fruitfulness, and well-being. It signifies God's active, benevolent intervention to cause flourishing. This reiterates the personal and intimate relationship ("thy God") and the source of all good things being from Yahweh alone.
• in all thine increase: Hebrew: bə·kol tə·ḇū·’ā·ṯeḵā (בְּכָל־תְּבוּאָתֶךָ). This specifically refers to agricultural yield or produce from the land. Given Sukkot is the "Feast of Ingathering," this emphasizes the harvest's bounty—grapes, olives, and late grains—as a direct result of God’s provision, aligning the feast with the season.
• and in all the works of thine hands: Hebrew: ū·ḇə·ḵol ma‘ăśēh yāḏeḵā (וּבְכָל־מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ). This phrase broadens the scope beyond agricultural produce to include all forms of human labor, craft, and enterprise. It communicates that God's blessing extends to every legitimate human effort, acknowledging divine favor in all vocational pursuits and personal industry. It demonstrates God's holistic interest in His people's well-being.
• therefore thou shalt surely rejoice: Hebrew: wə·śāmachta (וְשָׂמַחְתָּ). The word śāmaḥ (שָׂמַח) means to be joyful, glad, or delighted. It's not merely an option but a commanded response, signifying that joy is an essential aspect of true worship and an appropriate overflow of gratitude for God's blessings. It's a public expression of delight in God's faithfulness, distinguishing true Israelite worship from somber or ritualistic forms of idolatry.

Deuteronomy 16 15 Bonus section

The Feast of Tabernacles, emphasized in this verse, has rich prophetic and eschatological significance. Zechariah 14:16-19 portrays a future scenario where all nations will come to Jerusalem to celebrate this very feast, signifying universal worship of the Lord. In the New Testament, John 7 records Jesus attending the Feast of Tabernacles, where He declared Himself the "Living Water" (John 7:37-38), drawing parallels to the water libation ceremony traditionally performed during Sukkot and subtly highlighting His fulfillment of Israel's hopes for the presence of God. This Feast also prefigures the ultimate "ingathering" of believers from all nations into God's eternal presence. The "seven days" of rejoicing can also symbolize the perfection and fullness of the eternal joy believers will experience in God's presence, when Christ makes all things new.

Deuteronomy 16 15 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:15 stands as a foundational command for joyful, centralized worship in response to divine blessing. It reveals the theology that God's overflowing generosity should naturally evoke profound gratitude and celebration from His people. The seven-day Feast of Tabernacles was designed not merely as an agricultural holiday, but as a covenantal enactment—a time for Israel to vividly recall their dependence on God in the wilderness while simultaneously celebrating His bountiful provision in the Promised Land. The explicit instruction to "rejoice" highlights that joy is not a secondary emotion but a commanded posture of the heart, an essential component of worshiping a generous God. This joy was to be shared communally at the divinely chosen place, fostering national unity and preventing the self-centered accumulation of blessings. It reminded the Israelites that their prosperity was a gift, leading to worship, not pride or self-sufficiency. The verse serves as a perpetual lesson that true blessedness culminates in heartfelt rejoicing and active thanksgiving to the Lord, the ultimate source of all increase and success. This also forms a polemic against attributing success to personal might, pagan deities, or mere chance.