Deuteronomy 16:14

And you shall rejoice in your feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites in Moab, commanding them to observe the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles immediately after gathering the harvest from the threshing floor and winepress.

The words — The Hebrew verb שָׂמַחְתָּ (śāmaḥtā) means "you will rejoice," and חַגֶּךָ (ḥaggeka) means "your festival," forming the core command to celebrate the appointed feast.

The thread — This directive to include sons, daughters, servants, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow in festival joy runs parallel to Deuteronomy 16:11 and Deuteronomy 26:11, while Nehemiah 8:9 later commands the people to reject weeping on a holy day.

Why it lands — The text requires every household member and resident without land or family to participate in the harvest celebration, making communal rejoicing a direct obligation tied to divine provision.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖ve./sa.mach.Taand/ you will rejoice בְּחַגֶּ֑ךָbe./cha.Ge./khaat/ festival/ your אַתָּ֨ה'a.Tahyou וּבִנְךָ֤u./vin./Khaand/ son/ your וּבִתֶּ֙ךָ֙u./vi.Te./khaand/ daughter/ your וְעַבְדְּךָ֣ve./'av.de./Khaand/ [male] servant/ your וַאֲמָתֶ֔ךָva./'a.ma.Te./khaand/ female servant/ your וְהַלֵּוִ֗יve./ha./le.Viand/ the/ Levite וְהַגֵּ֛רve./ha./Gerand/ the/ sojourner וְהַיָּת֥וֹםve./hai./ya.Tomand/ the/ fatherless one וְהָאַלְמָנָ֖הve./ha./'al.ma.Nahand/ the/ widow אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwho בִּשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ׃bi/sh.'a.Rei./kha[are] in/ gates/ your

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Nehemiah 8:9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law.
Deuteronomy 16:11 and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you.
Deuteronomy 26:11 So you shall rejoice—you, the Levite, and the foreigner dwelling among you—in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
Isaiah 12:1 In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me.
Isaiah 25:6 On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine.
Isaiah 30:29 You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
Isaiah 35:10 So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice at all times.
Deuteronomy 12:12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, since he has no portion or inheritance among you.