Table of Contents
Deuteronomy 16 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God: for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there.
3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.
5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee:
6 But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.
Deuteronomy Chapter 16 (Old Testament)
7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.
9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.
10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the Lord thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:
11 And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
Deuteronomy Chapter 16 (Old Testament)
13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
15 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.
16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.
18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| פֶּסַח — pesach | Verse 1 — “Keep the Passover unto the LORD thy God…” | “Passover,” exemption. | Pesach (“Passover”) recalls divine deliverance (“deliverance/exemption”). It anchors Israel’s worship in historical redemption. The term emphasizes remembrance of God’s saving acts. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament |
| שָׁמַר — shamar | Verse 1 — “Keep the Passover…” | “To guard,” keep. | Shamar (“to guard/keep”) stresses vigilant observance (“keep”). It unites obedience with commemoration. The term reinforces covenant continuity. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| מַצּוֹת — matzot | Verse 3 — “…the bread of affliction…” | “Unleavened bread.” | Matzot (“unleavened bread”) symbolizes haste and purity (“unleavened”). It recalls the urgency of the Exodus. The term ties ritual food to redemptive memory. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament |
| שִׁבְעָה — shiv’ah | Verse 3 — “…seven days shalt thou eat…” | “Seven,” completeness. | Shiv’ah (“seven”) marks covenantal completeness (“seven”). It sanctifies time through divine order. The term links ritual cycles to sacred rhythm. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
| חַג — chag | Verse 10 — “…keep the feast of weeks…” | “Feast,” pilgrimage festival. | Chag (“feast/festival”) signifies joyous worship (“feast”). It calls Israel to celebratory devotion. The term reinforces communal unity before God. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon |
| שָׂמַח — samach | Verse 11 — “…and thou shalt rejoice…” | “Rejoice,” be glad. | Samach (“to rejoice”) frames worship as joyful participation (“rejoice”). It includes the marginalized within covenant celebration. The term highlights inclusive joy. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| מָקוֹם — makom | Verse 11 — “…in the place which the LORD shall choose…” | “Place,” sacred site. | Makom (“place”) stresses God’s sovereignty over worship location (“place”). It connects holiness to divine choice, not human convenience. The term reinforces liturgical unity. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary |
| צֶדֶק — tzedek | Verse 20 — “Justice, justice shalt thou pursue…” | “Justice,” righteousness. | Tzedek (“justice”) demands ethical integrity (“justice”). The repetition intensifies urgency for moral purity. The term places righteousness at the center of Israelite governance. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon |
| שָׁפַט — shafat | Verse 18 — “…judges and officers shalt thou make…” | “Judge,” govern. | Shafat (“to judge”) establishes righteous administration (“judge”). It structures civic life around divine law. The term embeds justice into societal framework. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary |
| נָטַע — nata | Verse 21 — “…thou shalt not plant a grove…” | “Plant,” establish. | Nata (“to plant”) warns against establishing pagan symbolic trees (“plant”). It shields Israel from syncretistic worship forms. The term reinforces exclusive devotion to Yahweh. — Carl Friedrich Keil, Commentary |
Deuteronomy Chapter 16
Verse: "Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress." - Deuteronomy 16:13
Lesson: This verse highlights the importance of celebrating the goodness of God. The Festival of Tabernacles was a time to remember God's provision during the Israelites' time in the wilderness. In the same way, we must take time to celebrate God's blessings in our lives and remember His faithfulness.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
Conclusion: As we go through life's ups and downs, it's important to take time to celebrate God's goodness and provision. By doing so, we cultivate an attitude of gratitude and develop a deeper trust in God.
Prayer Points: Thank God for His provision in your life, and ask Him to help you cultivate a heart of gratitude. Ask for strength to trust Him even in difficult times.
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