Deuteronomy 23:25 kjv
When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbor, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor's standing corn.
Deuteronomy 23:25 nkjv
When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain.
Deuteronomy 23:25 niv
If you enter your neighbor's grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain.
Deuteronomy 23:25 esv
If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.
Deuteronomy 23:25 nlt
And when you enter your neighbor's field of grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not harvest it with a sickle.
Deuteronomy 23 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 12:1 | At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath...His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and eat. | Disciples apply Deu 23:25 on Sabbath |
| Mk 2:23 | One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. | Disciples pluck grain on Sabbath |
| Lk 6:1 | One Sabbath, when he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate heads of grain... | Disciples' actions validate the law |
| Lk 6:2-5 | Some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And Jesus answered them... | Jesus defends disciples' lawful act |
| Lev 19:9-10 | When you reap the harvest...you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings...leave them for the poor and for the sojourner. | Related gleaning law for the poor |
| Deut 24:19 | When you reap your harvest...and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it...for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow. | Provision for the vulnerable |
| Ruth 2:2-3 | Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him...So she went and gleaned. | Illustration of gleaning principle |
| Ex 20:15 | You shall not steal. | Deu 23:25 defines permissible taking |
| Ex 22:5-6 | If anyone pastures his livestock...it crops the field...he shall make restitution. | Distinction: damage vs. specific permissible use |
| Prov 27:7 | A full soul loades up honey, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. | Human need (hunger) recognized |
| 1 Tim 5:18 | For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” | Principles of provision for those who labor |
| Deut 14:28-29 | At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe...that the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow...may come and eat and be filled. | Systemic provision for the needy |
| Lev 23:22 | When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge...you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner. | God's commanded provision for the needy |
| Prov 3:27 | Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. | Principle of generosity and help |
| Ps 145:15-16 | The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. | God's provision for creation |
| Ps 37:25 | I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. | God cares for His people's basic needs |
| Job 24:10 | They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves. | Contrast with exploitation of the poor |
| Rom 13:8-10 | Owe no one anything, except to love one another...Love does no wrong to a neighbor. | General principle of loving your neighbor |
| 1 Cor 9:9-10 | For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? | Farmer's right to fruit of labor vs. traveler's need |
| James 2:15-16 | If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food...what good is that? | Christian duty to meet needs |
| Heb 13:16 | Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. | Encouragement to practical love |
Deuteronomy 23 verses
Deuteronomy 23 25 Meaning
Deuteronomy 23:25 grants individuals traversing a neighbor's field of standing grain permission to hand-pluck and consume enough for immediate hunger. However, it explicitly prohibits using a tool, such as a sickle, to cut or gather a larger quantity, thereby ensuring that personal relief from hunger does not infringe upon the property owner's rights or lead to theft.
Deuteronomy 23 25 Context
Deuteronomy presents Moses' final addresses to the Israelites before entering the Promised Land, reiterating and expanding on the Sinai covenant to prepare them for life in Canaan. Chapter 23 contains various laws governing Israel's purity, ethical conduct, and treatment of others within the community. Verse 25 fits within a segment of statutes that outline practical social responsibilities and regulate interaction regarding property and resources. This particular law reveals a careful balance: acknowledging and protecting individual property rights (the "neighbor's" field) while making a humane provision for unexpected hunger among fellow Israelites or sojourners. It fosters a spirit of compassion and charity in daily life within a divinely ordered society.
Deuteronomy 23 25 Word analysis
- When thou comest into: The Hebrew ki tāḇō' (כִּי תָבֹא) signifies entering a place, indicating a transient visit rather than prolonged presence or ownership claim.
- thy neighbour's: The Hebrew re‘eḵā (רֵעֲךָ), "your neighbor," underscores community. It explicitly indicates that the field belongs to another, affirming distinct private property ownership.
- standing corn / standing grain: The Hebrew qāmāh (קָמָה) refers to grain still upright and unharvested in the field, ready for the owner's harvest.
- then thou mayest pluck: The verb qāṭaf (קָטַף), meaning "to pluck or nip off," denotes taking a small, personal portion for immediate consumption. It implies a non-destructive action not meant for gathering or storing.
- the ears: Specifically refers to the heads of grain that contain the edible kernels.
- with thine hand: The phrase bĕyāḏeḵā (בְּיָדֶךָ), "by your hand," emphasizes a manual action. This limits the quantity that can be taken, ensuring it is solely for immediate hunger relief and not commercial-scale harvesting.
- but thou shalt not move a sickle: The strong negative command using ḥermēš (חֶרְמֵשׁ), the Hebrew term for a reaping hook or sickle, prohibits the use of any tool for harvesting. This precisely defines the boundary of the permission.
- unto thy neighbour's standing corn: This reiterates the owner's legitimate claim and emphasizes that using a tool would infringe upon that right, contrasting sharply with the limited, permissible act of hand-plucking for hunger.
Words-group analysis:
- "When thou comest into thy neighbour's standing corn, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand": This portion grants specific permission, limited by the immediate need, location, and method of gathering. It establishes an allowance for sustenance based on compassion in an agricultural society.
- "but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn": This strong prohibition defines the boundary and prevents abuse. It distinguishes between an act of hunger-driven consumption and an act of theft or harvesting, safeguarding the owner's property and labor. The stark contrast between "hand" and "sickle" clearly illustrates the fine line between compassion and pilfering.
Deuteronomy 23 25 Bonus section
This seemingly minor law embodies a profound theological principle: the wise administration of resources within a covenant community. It illustrates how divine law provides boundaries that encourage generosity and meet basic needs without eroding the concepts of labor, ownership, or responsibility. It discourages both extreme individualistic hoarding and communistic exploitation. The law also implies a degree of trust and community expectation: owners would generally not object to this minimal, specified act, understanding it as a legitimate and divinely sanctioned allowance. This nuanced approach demonstrates a God who cares not only for abstract legal principles but also for the practical, day-to-day realities and vulnerabilities of His people.
Deuteronomy 23 25 Commentary
Deuteronomy 23:25 provides a deeply insightful and compassionate statute that perfectly balances the recognition of individual property rights with a provision for human need. In an agrarian society where grain was a primary food source, the law acknowledges the transient hunger a person might experience while passing through a field. By permitting immediate hand-plucking for consumption, it demonstrates God's care for the poor and weary, ensuring that basic human sustenance is prioritized in situations of genuine, immediate need. This allowance fosters a spirit of charity and good neighborliness within the community.
However, the equally firm prohibition against using a sickle is crucial. It differentiates this act of mercy from theft or uncompensated labor. Taking by hand for immediate need is distinct from employing a tool to gather a large quantity for storage, sale, or personal gain. This distinction meticulously protects the landowner's livelihood and the product of their toil, affirming that kindness should not undermine justice or the economy. The spiritual significance is perhaps most powerfully seen when Jesus' disciples employed this very principle, establishing the legitimate priority of meeting a need even in apparent tension with the Sabbath laws, thereby emphasizing the compassionate spirit underlying the Law.