Three times in a year all of your males shall appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Yahweh empty. Every man shall give as he is able, according to Yahweh your God’s blessing which he has given you.
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Deuteronomy 16:16-17 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to Yahweh your God; for in the month of Abib Yahweh your God brought you out of Egypt by night. You shall sacrifice the Passover to Yahweh your God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Yahweh shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. You shall eat no leavened bread with it. You shall eat unleavened bread with it seven days, even the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste) that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. No yeast shall be seen with you in all your borders seven days; neither shall any of the meat, which you sacrifice the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning. You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which Yahweh your God gives you; but at the place which Yahweh your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came out of Egypt. You shall roast and eat it in the place which Yahweh your God chooses. In the morning you shall return to your tents. Six days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Yahweh your God. You shall do no work. You shall count for yourselves seven weeks. From the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain you shall begin to count seven weeks. You shall keep the feast of weeks to Yahweh your God with a tribute of a free will offering of your hand, which you shall give according to how Yahweh your God blesses you. You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes. You shall keep the feast of booths seven days, after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your wine press. You shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh your God seven days in the place which Yahweh chooses, because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful. Three times in a year all of your males shall appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Yahweh empty. Every man shall give as he is able, according to Yahweh your God’s blessing which he has given you. You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Yahweh your God gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality. You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. You shall follow that which is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which Yahweh your God gives you. You shall not plant for yourselves an Asherah of any kind of tree beside Yahweh your God’s altar, which you shall make for yourselves. Neither shall you set yourself up a sacred stone which Yahweh your God hates.
Parallel Translations
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Three times in a year all of your males shall appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Yahweh empty.
Every man shall give as he is able, according to Yahweh your God’s blessing which he has given you.
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Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
Show all 3 translations
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Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; on the feast of unleavened bread, and on the feast of weeks, and on the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty;
every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which He hath given thee.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Commandments (2)
The laws of the Torah, each cited and shown as a primary source.
Cross-references (19)
- Psalms 96:8 (v16) Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts.
- Proverbs 3:9-10 (v16) Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will…
- Haggai 1:9 (v16) “You looked for much, and, behold, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says Yahweh of Armies, “Because…
- Exodus 23:14-17 (v16) “You shall observe a feast to me three times a year. You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened…
- Matthew 2:11 (v16) They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they…
Show all 19 cross-references
- Exodus 34:20 (v16) You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the…
- 1 Chronicles 29:14-17 (v16) But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given…
- 1 Chronicles 29:3-9 (v16) In addition, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, since I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the…
- 1 Kings 9:25 (v16) Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar which he built to Yahweh three times per year, burning incense with them,…
- Exodus 34:22-23 (v16) “You shall observe the feast of weeks with the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of harvest at the year’s end. Three times in…
- Isaiah 60:6-9 (v16) A multitude of camels will cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah. All from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense,…
- Isaiah 23:18 (v16) Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to Yahweh. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who…
- Mark 12:3 (v16) They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (v17) Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each man give…
- 2 Corinthians 8:12 (v17) For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
- Deuteronomy 16:10 (v17) You shall keep the feast of weeks to Yahweh your God with a tribute of a free will offering of your hand, which you shall give according to…
- Mark 12:41-44 (v17) Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. A poor widow…
- Leviticus 27:8 (v17) But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall assign a value to him. The priest…
- Ezra 2:63 (v17) The governor told them that they should not eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to serve with Urim and with Thummim.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (13 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v17 According to the ability that God hath given him.
According to the ability that God hath given him.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v16 All thy males; not the women, partly, because of…
All thy males; not the women, partly, because of their infirmity and unfitness for many journeys; partly, because the care of their children and families lay upon them; and partly, because they were sufficiently represented in the men.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv16–17 Three times a year shall all thy males appear…
Three times a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God,.... This has been observed before, Exo 23:17, and is repeated here for the sake of mentioning the place where they were to appear, which before now was not observed, and indeed it is chiefly for that the other festivals are here recited:
in the place which he shall choose; which though not expressed is now easily understood; and the three times at which they were to appear there were, in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles; or passover, Pentecost, and tabernacles; and of numbers of people going up from the country to each of these feasts, we have instances in the New Testament; to the passover, Luk 2:42, to Pentecost, Act 2:5, to tabernacles, Joh 7:2,
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and they shall not appear before the Lord empty; Aben Ezra observes, the meaning is, not empty of the tribute of the freewill offering of their hand, and which Jarchi more fully explains of the burnt offerings of appearance, and of the peace offerings of the Chagigah, or money answerable to them; which, according to the Misnah (q) was a meah of silver for a burnt offering, and two pieces of silver for the Chagigah, which weighed thirty two barley corns (r).
(q) Chagigah, c. 1. sect. 2. (r) Maimon. & Bartenora in ib.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v17 Thou shalt rejoice - In God and the effects…
Thou shalt rejoice - In God and the effects of his favour, praising him with a glad heart.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v16 Verse 16. Three times in a year] See Clarke…
Verse 16. Three times in a year] See Clarke on Ex 23:14, where all the Jewish feasts are explained. See also Clarke "Le 23:34".
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v16 Empty. All were bound to make some offering, which…
Empty. All were bound to make some offering, which was left to their option, and thus the festivity was much increased, by the abundance of all things; so that all might find a particular pleasure in being present at these feasts, even though they were not influenced by sentiments of piety and of religion. See Exodus xxiii. 15. (Calmet) --- While the masters of families were from home, thrice in the year, God protected their houses and children from the incursions of enemies, so that they were never more secure. (Sanctius) (Tirinus)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v16 Three times in a year shall all thy males…
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God--No command was laid on women to undertake the journeys, partly from regard to the natural weakness of their sex, and partly to their domestic cares.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v16 16. Three times in a year shall all thy…
16. Three times in a year shall all thy males appear — The women were not required to attend these festivals, yet it is evident that both women and children went to them. It has been questioned whether the Israelites had been accustomed to observing stated religious feasts in Egypt. The expressions used in Exo_3:18; Exo_5:1, seem to imply that they had such observances. The latter passage is very suggestive: “Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.”
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v16 (16) Three times in a year.—So Exo_23:17. And in…
(16) Three times in a year.—So Exo_23:17. And in Exo_34:23-24 a promise is added that their land should be safe in their absence.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v16 Vers. 16, 17. (Cf. Exo_23:17 Exo_34:23) The law is…
Vers. 16, 17. (Cf. Exo_23:17 Exo_34:23) The law is repeated here with the additional clause, "at the place which the Lord shall choose;" and the words, "not empty," are explained to mean with gifts according to the gift of their hands, according to the blessing of Jehovah their God, which he had given them.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v16 Three times in a year.
Deu_16:16-17
Three times in a year.
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The command respecting festivals
We are informed by ancient writers that the Egyptians kept many stated festivals and religious assemblies in honour to the gods, and that they held no less than six every year at different places. It is probable that this custom was of great antiquity, and observed when Israel dwelt in Egypt. Therefore, when Moses went to Pharaoh, and asked leave for the Hebrews to celebrate a feast to the Lord, the Egyptians could not say that it was an unreasonable request, since they accounted it a duty to do the like. This opens to us one reason for which these festivals were appointed in the law, namely, in compliance with the inclinations of the people, who doubtless were desirous to have their feasts and assemblies, as well as the Egyptians with whom they had dwelt.
I. The work or action enjoined--to appear before the Lord. God condescended to take upon Him the government of the Jewish nation, and is here represented as their King; and they, as dutiful subjects, and required to come and salute Him, and present themselves before Him at certain times. The same respect which other nations showed to their princes, the Jews were to show to God, as He was their King. Thus far it was a civil or political duty. But as their King was also the Almighty, to appear before Him was a religious duty; it was to serve and worship Him in a public manner; and herein this law is moral, universal, and everlasting.
II. The persons who were to appear at these solemn feasts. All thy males shall appear before the Lord. These words are to be understood not as excluding the females from being present at these assemblies, but as giving them leave of absence, and intimating that it might sometimes be more proper for them to stay at home. The reasons for which the females had an exemption from this solemn duty seem to have been these first, the weakness of the sex, not so fit to bear the fatigue of these frequent journeys; secondly, the care of their children and families, which could not be thus wholly abandoned; and, thirdly, the dangers to which they would be exposed in such a numerous and mixed assembly. The Egyptians, when they repaired to the feasts, sailed together upon the river Nile in large companies, men and women, and many indecencies were committed, which this law seems to have been intended to prevent. Thus were they excused from these religious journeys when it was inconvenient. But at other times, and on other occasions, they frequented the places appointed for instruction and for the worship of God; as we may conclude from such examples as are recorded in Scripture, and from that piety and gratitude which are usually more observable in them than in the other sex.
III. The place where the men were to appear--in the place which the Lord shall choose, namely, in the place where the ark and the tabernacle of God should be, which at the first was at Shiloh, in the country of Samaria and tribe of Ephraim, and afterwards at Jerusalem in the tribe of Judah, where David erected a tabernacle, and Solomon built a magnificent temple. One reason for which these festivals were appointed, and appointed at one place, was to keep up peace and friendship and unity, both in Church and State. Nothing is more likely to conduce to this end than a religious association and intercourse, and a participation of the same sacred rites.
IV. The time when the Jews were to meet together--it was thrice in the year; in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles. From these religious institutions it may he observed that the hallowing unto God more days in the week than one is not, as some have fancied, against the design and meaning of the Fourth Commandment. For by these three solemn feasts, which were each of them of a weeks continuance at least, it is manifest that Six days thou shalt labour was no commandment, but expressed only an ordinary permission of working; and to think that God would contradict His own law by a contrary ordinance is inconceivable. As, therefore, when He commanded the Jews to give Him the tenth part of their increase, He forbade not free-will offerings; so, when He enjoined them to keep holy one day in seven, this hindered not but that they might hallow unto Him other days even of the six. Hence it is concluded that the Christian Church hath likewise a power to set apart days for the more solemn service of God. But this should be done sparingly, discreetly, and cautiously; it should rather be recommended than required, and never without manifest reasons.
V. A particular duty required of all the people when they came to worship God at these feasts, namely, not to appear empty. It was a custom in those parts of the world when subjects came before their king, to make him a present; and even a little fruit, or a single flower, was favourably accepted from one who was not in circumstances to offer more. The Jews were commanded to bring a present; not a burnt offering or a sacrifice by fire; for these, though at the same time they were also required, yet were of another nature, and for another end; but a heave offering, a freewill offering, which was a tribute of thankfulness to God, and likewise an acknowledgment of His supreme lordship and dominion over all. (J. Jortin, D. D.)
They shall not appear before the Lord empty.
The law of gifts in the Pentateuch
Empty in one sense, empty of blessing, none of us can appear before the Lord, or our prayer has mocked Him, and our praise. Crowned with His goodness, you have come up hither; crown His goodness in return with praise.
I. A leading feature, the leading feature of the Old Testament revelation is, that life and all that crowns it--its crown of blessings--is the gift of a living intelligent Being, and comes to us bearing the seal of His love, The Jews were separated to this end, that Gods methods and purposes with all men might be laid bare; that for once the Hand might be clearly manifest which is busy about every life.
II. The motive which is pleaded for all the noblest human effort is Gods example. God has done thus and thus for you: Go ye and do likewise for your fellow men. It is the plea which is constantly urged in the Old Testament, which we accuse of low and material views, both of man and of God. It is the highest witness to mans essential God-likeness which can be conceived. Mans nature only finds free, that is joyful play, when it is doing God-like things, when it is striving to think, will, and act like God. The only complete form of mans life is the life which is also Divine.
III. The exhortations of the Scripture are amply sustained by our own experience of life. There is no joy that fills mans heart which is comparable with that which he shares with God. He who does a deed purely unselfish, who yields free play to the most generous, heavenly impulses.
IV. Part of this God-like duty finds expression in the text. none shall appear before the Lord empty. The Lord has filled you with good; you are fearfully and wonderfully made, and in fearful and wonderful harmony with the world. Your organs, exquisitely fashioned, and all the beauty and splendour of the creation, form a concord which at once expresses Gods loving kindness, and is to you a fountain of intense delight. And there is an inner harmony which He is striving to develop by uniting your heart to fear His name, which will make this great universe a Fathers house, and the awful future all eternal home. Help God, for His great mercys sake, to help the world.
V. Another great thought of the Old Testament is the help which it is in mans power to render to God. His ends can never be reached without us, in the way in which His wisdom has ordered the world. He might have ruled as a despot; He has chosen to seek rather to rule--as the Bishop of Argyll has happily phrased it as a constitutional king. (J. B. Brown, B. A.)
Is giving a help or a hindrance
I. Every individual is addressed.
1. All have been blessed; all are under obligations to recognise this fact by giving. Everyone should help. It is the mites that make the great aggregations.
2. Giving in accordance with Gods command is husbanding--it is investing. Said a great millionaire when asked, Where can I safely invest my money? Give to Gods cause, where I have put uncounted thousands, and I find that the interest due is always promptly paid, and the investment is perfectly safe. I shall meet it beyond the river, laid up in heaven, and shall enjoy it forever.
II. This command requires us to give as necessity requires and according to blessings received. Give, because you have received. Bless, because you have been blessed. Love, because you have been loved. Help, because you have been helped. Be liberal, because you thus glorify your Benefactor. The great giver is a great gatherer. He gathers love, power, influence, and revels in the smile of God. (J. D. Fulton, D. D.)
An offering of gratitude
One day an Indian asked Bishop Whipple to give him two one-dollar bills for a two-dollar note. The Bishop asked, Why? He said, One dollar for me to give to Jesus, and one dollar for my wife to give. The Bishop asked him if it was all the money he had. He said, Yes. The Bishop was about to tell him, It is too much, when an Indian clergyman who was standing by whispered, It might be too much for a white man to give, but not too much for an Indian who has this year heard for the first time of the love of Jesus.
Giving according to conscience
A minister was about to leave his own congregation for the purpose of visiting London, on what was by no means a pleasant errand--to beg on behalf of his place of worship. Previous to his departure he called together the principal persons connected with his charge, and said to them, Now, I shall be asked whether we have conscientiously done all that we can for the removal of the debt. What answer am I to give? Brother So-and-so, can you in conscience say that you have given all you can? Why, sir, he replied, if you come to conscience, I dont know that I can. The same question he put to a second, and a third, and so on, and similar answers were returned, until the whole sum required was subscribed, and there was no longer any need for their pastor to wear out his soul in going to London on any such unpleasant excursion. (Christian Age.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v16 all your males must appear before Yahweh
all your males must appear before Yahweh
Females were allowed, but Yahweh did not require that they come. The men could represent their whole families.
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must appear before Yahweh
"must come and stand in the presence of Yahweh"
No one will appear before Yahweh empty-handed
"They will not come before Yahweh without an offering" These two negative phrases together have a positive meaning. AT: "Every person who comes before Yahweh must bring an offering" (See: Litotes)
translationWords
year
Yahweh
God
unleavened bread
Pentecost
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v16 16:16 Participation in the festival was required of every…
16:16 Participation in the festival was required of every man, but women and children could participate as well (16:11, 14; cp. Luke 2:41).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.