Leviticus 23 22

Leviticus 23:22 kjv

And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 23:22 nkjv

'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.' "

Leviticus 23:22 niv

"?'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.'?"

Leviticus 23:22 esv

"And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God."

Leviticus 23:22 nlt

"When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God."

Leviticus 23 verses

Leviticus 23 22 Meaning

Leviticus 23:22 commands the people of Israel, when they harvest their land, not to completely reap the corners of their fields nor to gather the fallen gleanings. Instead, they are instructed to leave these unharvested portions specifically for the poor and the stranger residing among them, grounding this instruction in God's sovereign authority as "the LORD your God." This establishes a divine law for social justice and compassion within Israel's agricultural and economic life, integrating care for the vulnerable as an act of obedience and worship.

Leviticus 23 22 Context

Leviticus 23 details the calendar of Israel's divinely appointed feasts and holy convocations, starting with the weekly Sabbath and proceeding through Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Verse 22, the subject of this analysis, is uniquely inserted between the Feast of Weeks (representing the completion of the grain harvest) and the autumn festivals (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles). This placement is significant: it places a social justice command squarely within the framework of their sacred religious calendar, emphasizing that worship of God and compassion for the vulnerable are inextricably linked. It instructs them that even amidst celebrations of divine provision, they must remember God's claim over the land and their ethical responsibilities as stewards, particularly towards the poor and the stranger who were economically vulnerable and lacked ancestral land inheritance in Israel. This command is not a suggestion but a covenant expectation from their "LORD God," reiterating a theme present throughout the Pentateuch that care for the marginalized is a cornerstone of Israelite society and a reflection of God's own character.

Leviticus 23 22 Word analysis

• And when ye reap (בְּקֻצְרְכֶם - bəquṣrəḵem): Implies an ongoing and recurring action; this is a permanent law for every harvest season. It grounds the ethical requirement directly within their daily economic activity.
• the harvest (קְצִיר - qəṣîr): Refers specifically to the grain harvest, indicating agricultural produce that sustains life. This highlights the foundational nature of food provision.
• of your land (אַרְצְכֶם - 'arṣəḵem): Emphasizes that the land is given to them by God and, as such, comes with specific stewardship responsibilities. It is not solely "their" land but God's.
• thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field (לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדֶךָ - lō' ṯəḵalləh pə'aṯ śāḏeḵā):
  • "not make clean riddance": From the verb כָּלָה (kaláh), meaning "to complete, finish, bring to an end." It forbids completely denuding the field, ensuring something remains.
  • "corners" (פְּאַת - pe'ah): Refers to the edges or borders of the field. This specific area was designated to be left unharvested, a visible and accessible source of food. This was a clear, actionable directive, not vague charity.
• when thou reapest (בְּקֻצְרֶךָ - bəquṣrēḵā): Repeats the active context, reinforcing that this applies directly during the harvesting process, not as an afterthought.
• neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest (וְלֶקֶט קְצִירְךָ לֹא תְלַקֵּט - wəleqeṭ qəṣîrəḵā lō' təlaqqēṭ):
  • "gleaning" (לֶקֶט - leqeṭ): Refers to scattered ears of grain or fallen produce left behind by the harvesters. This prohibition prevents total retrieval and permits access to these remnants.
  • The double negation reinforces the strictness of the command; no small part should be kept.
• thou shalt leave them (לַעֲנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם - la'anî wəlagēr ta'azōḇ 'ōṯām):
  • "leave them": The verb עָזַב ('azav) means to "forsake, abandon, relinquish." It signifies a deliberate act of letting go of what one might otherwise claim, ceding control to another.
  • "unto the poor" (לַעֲנִי - la'anî): The Hebrew 'anî refers to the afflicted, humble, meek, or economically disadvantaged. It underscores the vulnerable segment of society dependent on this provision.
  • "and to the stranger" (וְלַגֵּר - wəlagēr): The ger was a resident alien, a sojourner living within Israelite society who had no inherited land or family support, often in a precarious economic position.
• I am the LORD your God (אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - 'ănî YHVH 'ĕlōhêḵem): This covenant formula appears frequently in Leviticus and signifies divine authority, demanding obedience rooted in God's identity and relationship with His people. It’s the ultimate rationale and basis for the command, tying economic and social practices directly to Israel's covenant with Yahweh. It emphasizes that this is not just an ethical guideline, but a sacred obligation commanded by their divine covenant Lord.

Leviticus 23 22 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of "the poor" (aniy) and "the stranger" (ger) highlights the groups most susceptible to hardship in an agricultural society without a familial land inheritance. The law of pe'ah (leaving the corners) and leqet (gleaning) wasn't about land owners offering charity from their abundance as a spontaneous act, but a structured and commanded act of distributive justice. It built into the economic system a social safety net, underscoring that the land and its produce ultimately belonged to God, and landowners were merely stewards accountable to His design. This served as a prophylactic measure against absolute wealth accumulation and social neglect, fostering a community that reflected divine compassion rather than pure individualistic gain. The continuous nature of the command ("when you reap") ensures that this ethical commitment remains constant, transcending any single act of giving. It cultivates an ongoing attitude of remembrance for the needy and reliance on God's sustaining grace.

Leviticus 23 22 Commentary

Leviticus 23:22 is a foundational statement of God's concern for social justice embedded within Israel's most sacred annual calendar of worship. By placing this agrarian law specifically amidst the celebrations of divine provision at harvest time, God integrates care for the poor and stranger into the very fabric of His people's worship and economic life. This wasn't merely charity, but a divinely ordained right for the marginalized, demonstrating God's ownership of the land and His compassion for all. The injunction against a "clean riddance" of the "corners" (pe'ah) and gathering "gleanings" (leqet) created specific, visible, and accessible provisions. This system both required diligent effort from the needy, preserving their dignity, and cultivated a posture of generosity and dependence on God among the landowners. It served as a constant reminder that Israel, once strangers themselves, were to extend mercy, echoing the heart of God.

Practical Usage Examples:

• For Individuals: Actively seek out ways to provide for the vulnerable in society, rather than always optimizing for personal gain. Share resources, whether food, clothing, or finances, with the explicit intention of helping those in need, mirroring God's provision.
• For Communities/Churches: Implement initiatives to collect surplus resources (food, clothing) and distribute them to the poor and stranger, ensuring practical care is integrated into community life. Support or create local "gleaning" programs for farms to distribute excess produce to food banks.
• For Businesses: Practice ethical business where profitability is balanced with responsibility to employees, local community, and vulnerable populations, leaving "corners" or resources accessible for others' benefit.