Deuteronomy 16:14
You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just tell everyone to be happy; it specifically names the most vulnerable people in society—the fatherless and the widow—alongside the Levites, sojourners, servants, and family. This isn't just a suggestion for a party; it's a divine mandate that true joy in God's feasts is incomplete unless it intentionally includes and uplifts those who might otherwise be overlooked or excluded.
This verse is part of the instructions for Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals, emphasizing joyful celebration. Following the commands for the Feast of Tabernacles, it expands on who should share in this happiness. The text immediately before and after details the offerings and the requirement for all males to appear before the Lord, underscoring that true worship involves communal joy that includes even the most vulnerable members of society.
The Bible commands us to rejoice during festivals. But who exactly is meant to join in this celebration?
In Deuteronomy 16:14, God's instruction for the feasts is crystal clear: it's not just for your immediate family, but an inclusive celebration.
A Feast for Every Heart
This broad inclusion wasn't just about social courtesy; it was a theological statement. It reflected God's own heart of compassion and His desire for justice within His community. True worship and celebration are never meant to be exclusive parties, but expressions of God's abundant grace extended to all.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Deuteronomy 16:14 is available in the Sola app.
The verse doesn't just say 'be happy' – it commands 'rejoice.' What does that distinction mean for us today?
The command to 'rejoice' in Deuteronomy 16:14 is powerful. It’s not a suggestion, but an integral part of the festival observance. This tells us something profound about how God views joy and celebration.
The Theology of Joyful Feasting
In a world that often struggles with anxiety and discontent, remembering that God commands us to rejoice in Him and His blessings can be incredibly freeing. It’s a sacred duty, rooted in His character and His goodness towards us.
This passage echoes the spirit of Deuteronomy 16:14 by instructing the host to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to a feast, highlighting the importance of including the marginalized in times of celebration.
Psalm 103:6This verse speaks of the Lord 'working righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed,' aligning with the inclusive nature of the feast in Deuteronomy, which commands joy for all, including servants and the fatherless.
Nehemiah 8:10Nehemiah tells the people, 'Do not grieve, but rejoice, for the joy of the LORD is your strength,' which directly parallels the command to rejoice in Deuteronomy 16:14 and connects it to a deeper, God-given strength.
Matthew 18:10Jesus speaks of the 'angels in heaven always seeing the face of my Father' for the 'little ones,' similar to how Deuteronomy 16:14 emphasizes the inclusion of the vulnerable, like orphans and widows, in communal joy.
pooleDeuteronomy 16:14: "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."
No text from Poole on this verse.
cambridgeDeuteronomy 16:14: "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."
14 . and thou shalt rejoice ] As in Deuteronomy 16:11 but slightly varied.
The verse doesn't just tell everyone to be happy; it specifically names the most vulnerable people in society—the fatherless and the widow—alongside the Levites, sojourners, servants, and family. This isn't just a suggestion for a party; it's a divine mandate that true joy in God's feasts is incomplete unless it intentionally includes and uplifts those who might otherwise be overlooked or excluded.
This verse is part of the instructions for Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals, emphasizing joyful celebration. Following the commands for the Feast of Tabernacles, it expands on who should share in this happiness. The text immediately before and after details the offerings and the requirement for all males to appear before the Lord, underscoring that true worship involves communal joy that includes even the most vulnerable members of society.
This verse is part of the instructions for Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals, emphasizing joyful celebration. Following the commands for the Feast of Tabernacles, it expands on who should share in this happiness. The text immediately before and after details the offerings and the requirement for all males to appear before the Lord, underscoring that true worship involves communal joy that includes even the most vulnerable members of society.
"You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns." — The verse doesn't just tell everyone to be happy; it specifically names the most vulnerable people in society—the fatherless and the widow—alongside the Levites, sojourners, servants, and family. Thi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
