Deuteronomy 16:14
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The verse highlights that true rejoicing isn't just for the family unit, but extends to include everyone within their community, even the most vulnerable like servants, foreigners, orphans, and widows. This radical inclusivity shows that God's feasts are meant to be a picture of His kingdom, where no one is left out of the celebration.
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)
These instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles are part of a larger section detailing Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals. Immediately before this, Moses commanded them to rejoice in the Lord, and here he expands on who should join in that joy, explicitly including not just family but also servants and vulnerable members of the community. This emphasis on inclusive celebration continues in the following verses, which outline the required offerings and men's attendance at these feasts.
Feasts in the Bible aren't just for the core family. God's celebrations have a wider circle, including those who might feel like outsiders.
The verse lists a remarkable range of people who are to share in the joy of the feast: 'you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.'
This isn't just a random list; it’s a deliberate picture of inclusivity.
God’s feasts are designed to be expressions of His abundant provision and grace, and this joy is meant to be shared by all within the community.
Feasts were about more than just good food and time off. They were deeply spiritual, meant to cultivate a specific kind of joy.
The command to 'rejoice' in Deuteronomy 16:14 is rooted in thanksgiving and worship. Benson notes that this rejoicing is 'in God, and in the effects of his favour, serving and praising him with a glad heart.'
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This isn't superficial happiness; it's a deep, God-centered gladness that flows from recognizing His goodness.
True rejoicing in God strengthens our faith, deepens our worship, and builds unity.
This passage echoes Deuteronomy's command by showing the people rejoicing greatly during the Feast of Tabernacles, emphasizing that joy is a communal and God-honoring response to His Word.
Isaiah 61:3This prophecy highlights God's desire to bestow 'beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning' upon His people, aligning with the spirit of rejoicing commanded in Deuteronomy, especially for those who are typically marginalized.
Luke 2:10The angel's announcement of 'great joy which will be to all the people' points to the expansive nature of God's redemptive work, which extends to all, mirroring the inclusive list of celebrants in Deuteronomy.
Matthew 25:21Jesus' parable of the talents illustrates that true joy comes from faithfulness and good stewardship, reflecting the grateful hearts and proper observance intended by the feasts commanded in Deuteronomy.
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 highlights that true rejoicing isn't just for the family unit, but extends to include everyone within their community, even the most vulnerable like servants, foreigners, orphans, and widows. This radical inclusivity shows that God's feasts are meant to be a picture of His kingdom, where no one is left out of the celebration.
These instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles are part of a larger section detailing Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals. Immediately before this, Moses commanded them to rejoice in the Lord, and here he expands on who should join in that joy, explicitly including not just family but also servants and vulnerable members of the community. This emphasis on inclusive celebration continues in the following verses, which outline the required offerings and men's attendance at these feasts.
These instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles are part of a larger section detailing Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals. Immediately before this, Moses commanded them to rejoice in the Lord, and here he expands on who should join in that joy, explicitly including not just family but also servants and vulnerable members of the community. This emphasis on inclusive celebration continues in the following verses, which outline the required offerings and men's attendance at these feasts.
"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 highlights that true rejoicing isn't just for the family unit, but extends to include everyone within their community, even the most vulnerable like servants, foreigners, orphans, and wid…
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Last reviewed October 2026
