Deuteronomy 23:25
If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This law isn't just about feeding the hungry; it distinguishes between taking a little to sustain yourself and outright theft. The crucial detail is "pluck the ears with your hand"—you can gather what you need as you pass through, but using a sickle implies harvesting for storage, which is stealing the neighbor's hard-earned crop. It teaches us to be mindful of both our needs and respecting the boundaries and labor of others.
This instruction comes within a larger section of Deuteronomy detailing various laws and regulations for Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, outlining how they should live justly and compassionately within their communities. Specifically, it follows laws about not returning escaped slaves and provisions for the poor, emphasizing kindness and preventing exploitation. This verse then sets a boundary: while a hungry traveler may eat from a neighbor's field to survive, they must not take advantage of the generosity by harvesting it for later.
Imagine you're traveling, weary and hungry. What does God's Word say about your needs and your neighbor's resources?
This verse reveals a beautiful, practical aspect of God's heart for those in need. It's not just about charity from afar, but about allowing immediate, tangible relief.
A Law of Kindness
The permission to pluck and eat from a neighbor's field wasn't about theft or exploitation. It was a compassionate provision for the hungry traveler. If you were passing through, and hunger struck, you could take a little to sustain yourself.
The Principle at Play
This law teaches us about the importance of showing practical kindness and mercy. It acknowledges that sometimes people are in immediate need, and it provides a way for basic sustenance to be met without causing significant harm to the owner. It was a way to prevent desperation and maintain dignity.
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Where does compassion end and entitlement begin? This ancient law draws a clear line.
While God's heart is for the needy, He also deeply values respect for property and diligent work.
The 'Do Not' Command
The prohibition against using a sickle is crucial. It marks the boundary between satisfying immediate hunger and taking a neighbor's livelihood. Using a sickle meant harvesting, gathering a significant portion, and essentially stealing the fruits of their labor.
Boundaries and Diligence
This restriction highlights that while mercy is essential, it doesn't negate the rights of ownership or the value of hard work. The landowner's effort and provision were to be respected. This law prevented abuse and ensured that the kindness shown was not exploited. It’s a reminder that our generosity should always be balanced with respect for others' property and efforts.
Understand the original words
qamah · Hebrew Noun
Cereal crops grown in a field; in the Law, these represent a source of sustenance provided by God, often with specific regulations for gleaning to provide for the poor and the traveler.
chermesh · Hebrew Noun
A metal agricultural tool with a curved blade used for harvesting; its prohibition in a neighbor's field distinguishes between immediate consumption for sustenance and the theft of property.
This passage shows Jesus and his disciples directly engaging in the action permitted by Deuteronomy 23:25, demonstrating how the ancient law applied in practice and was understood by Jesus himself.
Luke 6:1Similar to Matthew's account, this Gospel narrative illustrates the disciples plucking and eating grain on the Sabbath, highlighting the practical application and potential for conflict with religious authorities concerning this permissive law.
Ruth 2:2This story shows Ruth gleaning in the fields of Boaz, an act that echoes the spirit of Deuteronomy 23:25 by allowing the less fortunate to gather sustenance from another's harvest, albeit in a more structured way.
1 Corinthians 9:9Paul references a similar principle from the Mosaic Law regarding not muzzling an ox while it treads grain, showing how God provided for those who labor, which aligns with the humane intent behind permitting travelers to eat from their neighbor's crops.
pooleDeuteronomy 23:25: "When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn."
No text from Poole on this verse.
gillDeuteronomy 23:25: "When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn."
When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour,.... Passest through it to go to some other place, the road lying through it, as it often does through standing corn; so Christ and his disciples are said to go through the corn, Matthew 12:1 ; but Jarchi says this Scripture speaks of a workman…
This law isn't just about feeding the hungry; it distinguishes between taking a little to sustain yourself and outright theft. The crucial detail is "pluck the ears with your hand"—you can gather what you need as you pass through, but using a sickle implies harvesting for storage, which is stealing the neighbor's hard-earned crop. It teaches us to be mindful of both our needs and respecting the boundaries and labor of others.
This instruction comes within a larger section of Deuteronomy detailing various laws and regulations for Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, outlining how they should live justly and compassionately within their communities. Specifically, it follows laws about not returning escaped slaves and provisions for the poor, emphasizing kindness and preventing exploitation. This verse then sets a boundary: while a hungry traveler may eat from a neighbor's field to survive, they must not take advantage of the generosity by harvesting it for later.
This instruction comes within a larger section of Deuteronomy detailing various laws and regulations for Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, outlining how they should live justly and compassionately within their communities. Specifically, it follows laws about not returning escaped slaves and provisions for the poor, emphasizing kindness and preventing exploitation. This verse then sets a boundary: while a hungry traveler may eat from a neighbor's field to survive, they must not take advantage of the generosity by harvesting it for later.
"If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain." — This law isn't just about feeding the hungry; it distinguishes between taking a little to sustain yourself and outright theft. The crucial detail is "pluck the ears with your hand"—you can gather wha…
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