Deuteronomy 26:14

I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything You commanded me.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The Israelite speaker addresses the LORD God during a ritual confession immediately after distributing the sacred portion to the Levite, foreigner, fatherless, and widow. This declaration precedes a direct petition for divine blessing from heaven.

The words — The Hebrew אָכַ֨לְתִּי ('a.Khal.ti) literally means "I have eaten," and בִעַ֤רְתִּי (vi.'Ar.ti) literally means "I have removed" or "purged." These verbs function as the grammatical core of the speaker's claim regarding ritual handling of consecrated food.

The thread — The verse's restrictions on uncleanness and contact with the dead align with Leviticus 7:20 and Leviticus 21:11, which forbid unclean individuals from eating sacred meat and priests from approaching corpses. These texts share a common legal framework separating holy offerings from states of ritual defilement.

Why it lands — The text requires a factual inventory of compliance with specific ritual commands before any request for covenant blessing. It demands that readers verify obedience to explicit boundaries as the necessary condition for receiving divine favor.

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

I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

Cross-references

Leviticus 7:20 But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.
Leviticus 21:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people,
Leviticus 21:11 He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother.
Hosea 9:4 They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD.
Psalms 106:28 They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.
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.
Ezekiel 24:17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”
Malachi 2:13 And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.