Leviticus 23:22
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just about charity; it's about recognizing God's sovereignty over the harvest. By intentionally leaving portions of the field untouched, the Israelites were demonstrating that the abundance they enjoyed ultimately belonged to the Lord, who then entrusted them to share it with the vulnerable.
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears amidst instructions for several harvest festivals, including the Feast of Firstfruits and Pentecost. After detailing the prescribed offerings and observances for these times of thanksgiving, God reminds the Israelites of their ongoing responsibility to care for the vulnerable within their community. This specific command about leaving portions of the harvest for the poor and sojourners is a re-emphasis of a law given earlier in Leviticus, highlighting the integration of social justice with religious devotion.
Imagine a farmer, exhausted but joyful after a long harvest. The fields are mostly empty, but God has a specific instruction about what's left behind.
In Leviticus 23:22, God gives a clear command that’s more than just about farming; it’s a foundational principle of His kingdom.
More Than Just Farming
When Israel reaped their fields, they weren't to be completely thorough. They had to leave the corners of their fields un-reaped and were forbidden from gathering any fallen grain (gleanings). This wasn't oversight; it was intentional.
A Kingdom Built on Care
This wasn't a new law. It was a reminder of God’s heart for the poor and the sojourner – those most vulnerable in society. By leaving these portions of the harvest, God was ensuring they had a means to survive and even thrive.
The LORD Your God
The verse concludes with "I am the LORD your God." This isn't just a sign-off; it’s the basis for the command. Because He is their God – their Provider, Protector, and King – they are to act like Him: generous, compassionate, and attentive to the needs of others.
Every command in Scripture flows from who God is. Leviticus 23:22 is no exception, revealing a core aspect of God's own character.
Ask a follow-up
The instruction in Leviticus 23:22 is embedded within the context of the feasts and harvests, moments of thanksgiving and celebration. Yet, even in these times of abundance, God redirects their focus.
From Thanksgiving to Generosity
After a successful harvest, the natural inclination might be to gather every last bit for oneself. However, God’s law introduces a vital counter-narrative. The "corners" and "gleanings" represent a deliberate act of self-restraint.
A Reflection of the Divine
The phrase 'I am the LORD your God' at the end of the verse is crucial. It's not just a signature; it’s the foundation. God Himself is the ultimate provider, and His provision is not exclusive. He makes the sun shine and the rain fall on all. This divine generosity is meant to be mirrored in His people.
A Principle of the Kingdom
This isn't merely a ritualistic practice for ancient Israel; it's a theological principle. It teaches that true worship and devotion to God are inseparable from active love and care for the poor and the stranger. Our abundance is to be shared, reflecting God's own abundant and inclusive nature.
Understand the original words
qatsiyr · Hebrew Noun
The act of gathering crops at the end of the growing season; in Scripture, it often serves as a metaphor for divine judgment or the gathering of souls.
'aniy · Hebrew Noun
Those who are economically disadvantaged, lacking resources, and dependent upon the kindness or charity of others for survival.
ger · Hebrew Noun
A person who resides in a land that is not their own ancestral home; in Israel, they were to be treated with justice and compassion as they were under God's protection.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God (Yahweh), emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness, and personal relationship with His people.
This passage shows Ruth gleaning in Boaz's field, and Boaz specifically instructing his workers to leave extra grain for her, mirroring the instruction in Leviticus to leave the harvest's edges and gleanings for the poor and sojourners.
Deuteronomy 24:19-22This passage directly reiterates the laws from Leviticus 19 and 23 about leaving portions of the harvest for the poor and sojourners, emphasizing that this is a perpetual command and a reminder of God's deliverance.
Proverbs 3:9-10This proverb speaks of honoring the Lord with one's wealth and possessions, suggesting that a generous and charitable approach to one's harvest, as commanded in Leviticus, is a way to honor God.
Matthew 25:35-40Jesus highlights that caring for the least of these (the hungry, the stranger) is equivalent to caring for Him, underscoring the spiritual significance of providing for the needy, just as God commanded through the harvest laws.
1 John 3:17-18This passage challenges believers to show love through actions, not just words, stating that if someone has worldly needs and we don't help, God's love is not truly in us, echoing the practical love commanded in Leviticus through the harvest provision.
calvinLeviticus 23:1-44: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Alloquere filios Israel, et dic eis, Quum ingressi fueritis terrain quam ego do vobis, et messueritis messem ejus, tunc offeretis omnes primitias messis vestrae ad sacerdotem.
And he shall wave the shea…
calvinLeviticus 23:22: "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God."
- And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest; thou shalt leave them unto the poo…
This isn't just about charity; it's about recognizing God's sovereignty over the harvest. By intentionally leaving portions of the field untouched, the Israelites were demonstrating that the abundance they enjoyed ultimately belonged to the Lord, who then entrusted them to share it with the vulnerable.
This verse appears amidst instructions for several harvest festivals, including the Feast of Firstfruits and Pentecost. After detailing the prescribed offerings and observances for these times of thanksgiving, God reminds the Israelites of their ongoing responsibility to care for the vulnerable within their community. This specific command about leaving portions of the harvest for the poor and sojourners is a re-emphasis of a law given earlier in Leviticus, highlighting the integration of social justice with religious devotion.
This verse appears amidst instructions for several harvest festivals, including the Feast of Firstfruits and Pentecost. After detailing the prescribed offerings and observances for these times of thanksgiving, God reminds the Israelites of their ongoing responsibility to care for the vulnerable within their community. This specific command about leaving portions of the harvest for the poor and sojourners is a re-emphasis of a law given earlier in Leviticus, highlighting the integration of social justice with religious devotion.
"“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.”" — This isn't just about charity; it's about recognizing God's sovereignty over the harvest. By intentionally leaving portions of the field untouched, the Israelites were demonstrating that the abundanc…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
