Deuteronomy 24 20

Deuteronomy 24:20 kjv

When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Deuteronomy 24:20 nkjv

When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

Deuteronomy 24:20 niv

When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.

Deuteronomy 24:20 esv

When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.

Deuteronomy 24:20 nlt

When you beat the olives from your olive trees, don't go over the boughs twice. Leave the remaining olives for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Deuteronomy 24 verses

Deuteronomy 24 20 Meaning

Deuteronomy 24:20 instructs the owner of an olive grove to refrain from meticulously gleaning the branches after the initial harvest. Any olives remaining after the first beating of the trees are not to be gathered by the owner. Instead, these overlooked olives are to be left as provision for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, reflecting God's compassionate design for the care of the most vulnerable in society. This commandment extends God's divine economic system beyond merely the corners of fields to include the fruit of trees.

Deuteronomy 24 20 Context

Deuteronomy 24 forms a section of detailed statutes given to Israel by Moses, embodying the covenant relationship between Yahweh and His people. This chapter focuses primarily on various social and ethical laws that govern daily life within the promised land, extending the principles of justice and compassion found throughout the Deuteronomic code. Verses 19-22 specifically deal with agricultural laws related to gleaning from fields, vineyards, and olive groves, establishing a legal framework for the care of the poor and vulnerable—namely, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. These laws are immediately preceded by stipulations regarding personal integrity (oaths, pledges) and followed by rules on personal conduct and public decency. The broader historical context is Israel on the cusp of entering Canaan, about to establish a society based on God's divine principles, contrasting sharply with the often brutal and self-serving laws of surrounding pagan nations.

Deuteronomy 24 20 Word analysis

• When you beat (כִּי תַחְבֹּט - kî taḥḇōṭ): From the root ḥāḇaṭ, meaning "to beat, to strike." This refers to the method of harvesting olives in ancient times, where sticks were used to beat the branches, causing the olives to fall. It implies a thorough but initial harvest.

• your olive tree (זֵיתְךָ - zêṯḵā): Refers to the fruit-bearing tree central to the economy and diet of ancient Israel. Olives provided oil for light, cooking, anointing, and trade, making them a significant agricultural asset.

• you shall not go over the boughs again (לֹא תְפָאֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ - lōʾ təp̄āʾēr ʾaḥărêḵā):

  • Not (לֹא - lōʾ): A strong negative command, indicating a prohibition.
  • Go over... again (תְפָאֵר אַחֲרֶיךָ - təp̄āʾēr ʾaḥărêḵā): From the root pāʾar, which typically means "to glorify" or "to beautify." In this agricultural context, it implies meticulously inspecting or going back through the branches to ensure every last olive is gathered, almost "adorning" or "beautifying" the harvest by leaving nothing behind. The command prohibits this excessive gleaning. It means not to "strip clean" or "comb over thoroughly."

• it shall be (לַגֵּר יִהְיֶה - laggēr yihyeḥ): Expresses a divine allocation and right, not a charitable act. What is left belongs to these vulnerable groups.

• for the sojourner (לַגֵּר - laggēr): Gēr (גר) refers to a resident alien, a foreigner who lives among the Israelites. They were typically without tribal land inheritance and were thus economically dependent and vulnerable. God's law ensures their basic sustenance.

• for the fatherless (לַיָּתוֹם - layyāṯôwm): Yāṯôm (יתום) refers to an orphan, particularly one who has lost their father, the primary provider and protector in ancient patriarchal society. Their vulnerability stemmed from a lack of legal and economic guardian.

• and for the widow (וְלָאַלְמָנָה - wəlaʾalmānâ): ʾAlmānāh (אלמנה) refers to a woman whose husband has died. Widows, like orphans, were extremely vulnerable as they often lost their legal status, property rights, and economic support upon their husband's death, facing destitution unless protected.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again": This phrase highlights the intentionality of the farmer to leave some produce. It implies a deliberate restraint and generosity rooted in divine command, contrasting with a desire for maximum yield at the expense of others. It also provides specific practical instruction, limiting the extent of one's personal harvest to create a safety net for others.
  • "it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow": This phrase identifies the specific beneficiaries of this agricultural provision. These three groups (sojourners, fatherless, and widows) consistently represent the most vulnerable, marginalized, and economically dependent segments of ancient Israelite society, underscoring God's consistent concern for social justice and equity. This mandate is an extension of God's compassionate character and a reflection of Israel's own past as sojourners in Egypt (Deut 10:19).

Deuteronomy 24 20 Bonus section

The principles articulated in Deuteronomy 24:20 and the other gleaning laws reflect the deeper theological concept of God's ultimate ownership of the land. The Israelites were not absolute proprietors but stewards of God's gift. This understanding transformed agricultural practices from mere economic activities into acts of worship and obedience. The "imperfection" of the harvest—leaving some olives, standing grain, or grapes—was not a sign of waste but a tangible expression of dependence on God and faithfulness to His covenant. Furthermore, this law indirectly served as a polemic against common ancient Near Eastern practices of relentless exploitation and the often-harsh social stratification found in other societies. God's law guaranteed a safety net, fostering a community where the weak were not left to perish, emphasizing collective responsibility over unchecked individualism. The specific mention of olive trees, a perennial crop, means this provision was intended to be ongoing year after year, reinforcing the sustained nature of God's care.

Deuteronomy 24 20 Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:20, alongside its parallel commands for grain and grapes, codifies a foundational aspect of Israelite social ethics: agricultural justice as a divine mandate. It demonstrates that God's covenant with Israel encompassed not only religious ritual but also economic practice and care for the vulnerable. The command to leave olives on the boughs after the primary beating is a proactive measure designed to prevent destitution among those most susceptible to poverty. It moves beyond charity, making access to leftover produce a legal right for the sojourner, fatherless, and widow, embedding compassion directly into the nation's economic structure. This prevented the owner from extracting every last possible bit, fostering an ethic of open-handedness and trust in God's provision. It served as a practical expression of God's character as a provider and a protector of the defenseless, reminding the Israelites of their own past vulnerability as sojourners in Egypt, a consistent motivation throughout Deuteronomy for showing kindness to the oppressed. The instruction challenges the human inclination towards maximal accumulation, instead prioritizing shared abundance and demonstrating faith that God would bless their intentional incompleteness of harvest.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • A homeowner ensuring excess garden produce is shared with neighbors in need rather than letting it spoil or selling it all.
  • Businesses consciously implementing fair wage policies and contributing to community welfare, acknowledging a responsibility beyond pure profit.
  • Churches or individuals sponsoring programs to support orphans, single parents (often filling the modern role of "widows"), or immigrants/refugees ("sojourners").