Deuteronomy 24 19

Deuteronomy 24:19 kjv

When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19 nkjv

"When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19 niv

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19 esv

"When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 24:19 nlt

"When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don't go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.

Deuteronomy 24 verses

Deuteronomy 24 19 Meaning

Deuteronomy 24:19 instructs the Israelites that when harvesting their fields, if a sheaf of grain is accidentally forgotten and left behind, they are forbidden from returning to collect it. Instead, this forgotten portion is designated as provision for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. The motivation given for this commandment is that observing it will cause the LORD their God to bless all the work of their hands, linking their obedience and compassionate acts directly to divine favor and prosperity. This law underscores God's deep concern for the most vulnerable members of society and teaches generosity by valuing others' needs above one's own meticulous pursuit of every last gain.

Deuteronomy 24 19 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 24 is part of Moses' farewell discourses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab, before they enter the Promised Land. This chapter presents a diverse collection of social, civil, and moral laws designed to establish a righteous and compassionate society governed by God's covenant principles. The laws range from divorce, collateral for loans, the protection of the newly married man, to fair wages for laborers. In this broader context, verse 19 falls within a section (Deut 24:17-22) specifically emphasizing the protection of the vulnerable: the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, drawing parallels to Israel's own experience as "sojourners" in Egypt. The command about the forgotten sheaf serves as a practical, agricultural application of the overarching principle of justice, generosity, and compassion that permeated God's law for Israel. It highlights that even seemingly minor omissions or economic opportunities must be consecrated for the good of the disadvantaged, demonstrating that the well-being of the poor is a fundamental expression of Israel's faithfulness to their covenant with the LORD.

Deuteronomy 24 19 Word analysis

• When you reap (כִּי תִקְצֹר - ki tiqtzor): Signifies the agricultural nature of Israelite society and the seasonal activity of harvesting crops. This law applies during times of abundance.
• your harvest (קְצִירְךָ - qetzir'kha): Emphasizes personal possession and effort. The land and its produce are yours, yet God's laws dictate their use.
• in your field (בְשָׂדְךָ - besadekha): Points to private property ownership within Israel, where individuals owned parcels of land granted by divine allocation, but this ownership came with responsibilities.
• and forget (וְשָׁכַחְתָּ - v'shakhakhta): Crucial. This isn't an intentional act of discarding or leaving; it's an accidental oversight. God transforms an unintentional omission into an intentional act of charity, showing His radical approach to care for the poor. It alleviates guilt for the owner while providing for the needy.
• a sheaf (עֹמֶר - 'omer): A bundle of cut grain, ready to be gathered and transported. It signifies a tangible, specific unit of produce, highlighting that even small amounts are important for the needy.
• in the field (בַּשָּׂדֶה - basadeh): Reinforces the context; it's what's left on the ground after the main harvest effort.
• you shall not go back (לֹא תָשׁוּב - lo tashuv): A firm prohibition. Once forgotten, it is irrevocably assigned to another purpose. This creates a clear boundary, preventing the owner from attempting to recover it. It forces a complete relinquishment and cultivates a generous spirit.
• to get it (לְקַחְתּוֹ - l'qach'to): Emphasizes the purpose of going back—to retrieve and claim ownership. This is explicitly forbidden.
• It shall be for the sojourner (לַגֵּר יִהְיֶה - laggēr yihyeh): "Sojourner" (גֵּר - ger) refers to a resident alien, a non-Israelite living within the land who typically had no tribal land inheritance or established support network, making them vulnerable. God's law explicitly included them.
• for the fatherless (לַיָּתוֹם - layyatom): "Fatherless" (יָתוֹם - yatom) refers to orphans, specifically those who had lost their father, their primary protector and provider in a patriarchal society. They were extremely vulnerable, often lacking an inheritance or male guardian.
• and for the widow (וְלָאַלְמָנָה - v'la'almanah): "Widow" (אַלְמָנָה - almanah) refers to women who had lost their husbands and were often left without economic support or legal protection in a male-dominated society. This triad—sojourner, fatherless, widow—consistently represents the most vulnerable and marginalized in Israelite law and prophetic teaching.
• that the LORD your God may bless you (לְמַעַן יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - l'ma'an y'varekhekha Yehovah Elohekha): This is the explicit motivation and consequence. The blessing is not conditional on precise human calculation of fairness, but on faithful obedience to God's command. It teaches that true prosperity comes from divine favor, which is granted through acts of compassion and adherence to His covenant. It reverses the human instinct of self-enrichment by promising that generosity leads to greater divine favor.
• in all the work of your hands (בְּכֹל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ - b'khol ma'aseh yadeykha): This specifies the scope of the blessing – encompassing all endeavors and labors. God promises prosperity and fruitfulness for all their efforts, connecting their spiritual and moral obedience to their physical and material well-being.

Deuteronomy 24 19 Bonus section

• This law fosters a spiritual discipline of letting go and trusting God, rather than relying on one's own meticulousness or greed.
• It functions as a practical demonstration of faith, where even small forgotten details become opportunities for obedience and trust.
• The absence of strict human enforcement (no one watches if you return) suggests it relies on individual conscience and trust in God's omnipresence and promise of blessing. It’s an act of genuine heart, not compulsion.
• It implicitly reminds the farmer of God's abundant provision; one sheaf, though valuable, is not essential to their survival, allowing for gracious giving.
• This commandment reflects God's polemic against self-sufficiency and unchecked pursuit of personal gain, showing that true wealth lies in sharing and participating in God's justice.
• The law of the forgotten sheaf is not just about helping the poor but also about transforming the heart of the giver, encouraging generosity as a habit rather than an occasional act of charity.

Deuteronomy 24 19 Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:19 presents a profound lesson in divine economics and communal responsibility. It mandates not merely charity, but a relinquishing of claim, even over what was legitimately gained but unintentionally overlooked. This "forgetting" serves as an immediate, practical test of a person's willingness to surrender potential gain for the welfare of others. It cultivates an attitude of open-handedness rather than grasping. By designating the forgotten sheaf for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow—the triad representing society's most vulnerable—the law actively promotes a system of social welfare rooted in God's compassionate character. It's a stark contrast to many ancient Near Eastern legal codes which often lacked such provisions for the disadvantaged or upheld property rights rigidly.

The underlying theological principle is that the land and its bounty ultimately belong to God, and human ownership is a stewardship that comes with obligations, particularly to the needy (Lev 25:23). God rewards faithful stewardship and selfless generosity with broader blessing "in all the work of your hands," establishing a divine feedback loop where obedience leads to prosperity, demonstrating that the pursuit of justice and kindness is not merely an ethical good but also the path to divine favor. This law reminds Israel that their blessings are tied to their righteousness and their embodiment of God's heart for the marginalized, setting them apart as a distinct, compassionate nation.