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.
DEUTERONOMY 16:14KJVWhat does Deuteronomy 16:14 mean?
Deuteronomy 16:14 commands the people of Israel to celebrate their festival with joy, including not only their own families but also servants, Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows living among them. The verse emphasizes that everyone within the community’s gates should be included in the rejoicing during the feast.
Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, giving instructions about how to observe the major festivals. This verse specifically highlights that the joy of the feast is not just for the head of the household or immediate family, but for all people present in the community, especially those who might otherwise be left out.
The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 16:14
- שָׂמַח (śāmaḥ, H8055) — "rejoice": This word means to be glad or joyful. The command to rejoice is active, not just a feeling, encouraging intentional celebration and inclusion.
- חָג (ḥag, H2282) — "feast": This word refers to a festival or pilgrimage feast, a special time set aside for communal worship and celebration.
- גֵּר (gēr, H1616) — "stranger": This refers to a foreigner or sojourner living among the Israelites. Including the "stranger" shows that the festival was meant to be welcoming, not exclusive.
- יָתוֹם (yāṯôm, H3490) — "fatherless": This word means orphan. The mention of orphans and widows highlights care for the vulnerable.
- שַׁעַר (shaʿar, H8179) — "gates": This refers to the city or town gates, meaning everyone living within the community, not just the household.
Why Deuteronomy 16:14 matters
- Deuteronomy 16:14 makes clear that the joy of Israel’s festivals was meant to be shared by all, not just the privileged or insiders, correcting any idea that worship was private or exclusive.
- The verse highlights God’s concern for the vulnerable—servants, foreigners, orphans, and widows—by specifically naming them as part of the celebration.
- This instruction fits into a larger pattern in Deuteronomy, where Moses repeatedly calls the people to remember justice, generosity, and hospitality as central to their life together.