Deuteronomy 14

King James Version

Full text for Deuteronomy Chapter 14

1¶ Ye [are] the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.

2For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth.

3Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.

4These [are] the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,

5The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.

6And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, [and] cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.

7Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; [as] the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; [therefore] they [are] unclean unto you.

8And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it [is] unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

9These ye shall eat of all that [are] in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:

10And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it [is] unclean unto you.

11[Of] all clean birds ye shall eat.

12But these [are they] of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

13And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind,

14And every raven after his kind,

15And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,

16The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan,

17And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant,

18And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

19And every creeping thing that flieth [is] unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.

20[But of] all clean fowls ye may eat.

21Ye shall not eat [of] any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that [is] in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

22¶ Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

23And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

24And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; [or] if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

25Then shalt thou turn [it] into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

26And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

27And the Levite that [is] within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

28At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay [it] up within thy gates:

29And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which [are] within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Deuteronomy 14 establishes Israel's identity as God's holy and peculiar people, forbidding pagan mourning rites. It then details extensive dietary laws, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals, birds, and aquatic life based on specific physical characteristics. The chapter concludes with instructions on tithing, mandating an annual tithe to be consumed before the Lord and a triennial tithe for the support of Levites, strangers, the fatherless, and widows. These laws aim to reinforce Israel's distinctiveness and foster their reverence for God.

Medium Summary

As God's chosen and holy people, Israel is commanded to avoid pagan mourning customs such as self-mutilation for the dead. The chapter provides comprehensive dietary laws, specifying that clean land animals must both chew the cud and have cloven hooves, while unclean ones like the camel or swine lack one or both characteristics. Similarly, aquatic creatures must possess fins and scales to be considered clean, and a detailed list of unclean birds is provided. Israelites are also forbidden from eating animals that die naturally, though these may be given to strangers or sold to aliens. The text then transitions to the law of tithes, requiring an annual tenth of agricultural produce and firstlings to be eaten before the Lord at a chosen sanctuary, or converted to money if the journey is too far. This practice is intended to foster reverence for God. Every third year, a special tithe is to be stored locally to provide sustenance for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, ensuring their welfare and invoking divine blessing.

Long Summary

Deuteronomy 14 begins by establishing Israel's unique identity as the children of the LORD, a holy and peculiar people chosen above all nations. Consequently, they are forbidden from adopting pagan mourning practices such as cutting themselves or making baldness for the dead. The chapter then transitions to comprehensive dietary laws, starting with a general prohibition against eating any abominable thing. Specific clean land animals are identified as those that both chew the cud and have cloven hooves, including oxen, sheep, goats, and various deer species. Conversely, animals like the camel, hare, and coney are declared unclean because they chew the cud but lack cloven hooves, while the swine is unclean for having cloven hooves but not chewing the cud. Regarding aquatic life, only creatures possessing both fins and scales are permitted for consumption, rendering all others unclean. A detailed list of unclean birds is provided, encompassing various raptors, scavengers, and other species like the owl, swan, and bat. Additionally, any flying creeping thing is deemed unclean. The Israelites are also prohibited from eating anything that dies of itself, though such meat may be given to a stranger or sold to an alien, reinforcing their distinct holy status. A specific culinary prohibition against seething a kid in its mother's milk is also included. The chapter then shifts focus to the law of tithing, mandating that Israel truly tithe all the increase of their seed year by year. This annual tithe of corn, wine, oil, and firstlings of herds and flocks is to be eaten before the LORD at the place He chooses, serving as a means to learn to fear Him always. If the journey to this chosen place is too long, the tithe may be converted into money, which is then used to purchase desired food and drink to be consumed with rejoicing before the LORD. Crucially, the Levite is not to be forsaken, as they have no inheritance among the people. Finally, at the end of every three years, a special tithe is to be brought forth and stored within the gates, specifically for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, ensuring their sustenance and invoking the LORD's blessing upon all the work of the people's hands.

Core Concepts

  • Holy and Peculiar PeopleIsrael is designated as God's chosen children, set apart from other nations. This status dictates their conduct, including prohibitions against pagan mourning rituals like self-mutilation.
  • Dietary Laws (Kashrut)Detailed regulations are provided for clean and unclean foods, distinguishing between animals that chew the cud and have cloven hooves, aquatic life with fins and scales, and specific clean birds. These laws define what is permissible for consumption and reinforce Israel's distinct identity.
  • Clean and Unclean AnimalsThe chapter explicitly lists various animals, birds, and aquatic creatures as either clean (fit for consumption) or unclean (forbidden). This distinction is based on specific physical characteristics like hoof type, cud chewing, and the presence of fins and scales.
  • Annual TitheA mandatory annual offering of a tenth of agricultural produce and firstborn animals is prescribed. This tithe is to be consumed by the worshipper and their household before the Lord at a central sanctuary, serving to teach reverence for God.
  • Triennial TitheEvery third year, a separate tithe is to be collected and stored locally within the community's gates. This specific tithe is designated for the support of the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, ensuring social welfare and justice.
  • Support for Vulnerable GroupsThe chapter emphasizes the responsibility of the Israelites to provide for the Levites, who have no land inheritance, and for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. This provision, particularly through the triennial tithe, is linked to receiving God's blessing.
  • Reverence and RejoicingThe act of bringing and consuming tithes before the Lord is presented as a means to learn to fear God always. It also includes an element of communal rejoicing, where the worshipper and their household partake in the bounty in God's presence.