Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 26:12
When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses instructs the Israelites on the procedural conclusion of the third-year tithe cycle, immediately following the communal rejoicing in Deuteronomy 26:11 and preceding the formal declaration of obedience in Deuteronomy 26:13.
The words — תְכַלֶּ֞ה (te.kha.Leh) literally means "you will finish" or complete the act of setting aside. מַעְשׂ֧ר (ma'.Sar) denotes the tenth portion of agricultural produce designated for sacred distribution.
The thread — The tithe originates as belonging to the LORD in Leviticus 27:30, is assigned as the Levites' inheritance in Numbers 18:24, and finds a New Testament parallel in the receipt of gifts as an offering in Philippians 4:18.
Why it lands — The text commands the complete distribution of the third-year tithe to the Levite, foreigner, fatherless, and widow so they may eat and be filled within the gates. The reader must execute this specific redistribution without withholding the portion or neglecting the designated vulnerable recipients.
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
King James Version
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
Cross-references
- Leviticus 27:30 Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
- Numbers 18:24 For I have given to the Levites as their inheritance the tithe that the Israelites present to the LORD as a contribution. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.”
- Philippians 4:18 I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
- Deuteronomy 14:22 You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields.
- Proverbs 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
- Hebrews 7:5 Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.
- Deuteronomy 12:17 Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts.
- 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.
- Hebrews 7:9 And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.