Focused Passage

Deuteronomy 14:3-21

Sons of the LORD: Clean Food, Holy People, and the Tithe That Teaches Covenant Economics

From the identity foundation — sons of the LORD, holy people, treasured possession (vv. 1-2) — through the food distinctions that mark the boundary of covenant identity (vv. 3-21) to the tithe that embodies covenant economics at the chosen place (vv. 22-27) and in the local towns for the marginalized (vv. 28-29).

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

3You must not eat any detestable thing.

4These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat,

5the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep.

6You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.

7But of those that chew the cud or have a completely divided hoof, you are not to eat the following: the camel, the rabbit, or the rock badger. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof. They are unclean for you,

8as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.

9Of all the creatures that live in the water, you may eat anything with fins and scales,

10but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; it is unclean for you.

11You may eat any clean bird,

12but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,

13the red kite, the falcon, any kind of kite,

14any kind of raven,

15the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,

16the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,

17the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant,

18the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, or the bat.

19All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.

20But you may eat any clean bird.

21You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 3

Original words

You must notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleeatתֹאכַ֖לH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularanyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructdetestable thingתּוֹעֵבָֽה׃H8441Noun - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

Theseזֹ֥אתH2063Pronoun - feminine singularare the animalsהַבְּהֵמָ֖הH929Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeyou may eatתֹּאכֵ֑לוּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralThe oxשׁ֕וֹרH7794Noun - masculine singular. . .שֵׂ֥הH7716Noun - masculine singular constructthe sheepכְשָׂבִ֖יםH3775Noun - masculine plural. . .וְשֵׂ֥הH7716Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructthe goatעִזִּֽים׃H5795Noun - feminine plural

BSB notes

  • The precise identification of some of the birds and animals in this chapter is uncertain.
Verse 5

Original words

the deerאַיָּ֥לH354Noun - masculine singularthe gazelleוּצְבִ֖יH6643Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularthe roe deerוְיַחְמ֑וּרH3180Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularthe wild goatוְאַקּ֥וֹH689Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularthe ibexוְדִישֹׁ֖ןH1788Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularthe antelopeוּתְא֥וֹH8377Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand the mountain sheepוָזָֽמֶר׃H2169Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

You may eatתֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralanyוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructanimalבְּהֵמָ֞הH929Noun - feminine singularthat has a splitשֶׁ֙סַע֙H8157Noun - masculine singular. . .מַפְרֶ֣סֶתH6536Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular constructhoofפַּרְסָ֗הH6541Noun - feminine singulardividedוְשֹׁסַ֤עַתH8156Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular constructin twoשְׁתֵּ֣יH8147Number - feminine dual construct. . .פְרָס֔וֹתH6541Noun - feminine pluraland that chewsמַעֲלַ֥תH5927Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular constructthe cudגֵּרָ֖הH1625Noun - feminine singular. . .בַּבְּהֵמָ֑הH929Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֹתָ֖הּH853Direct object marker | third person feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

Butאַ֣ךְH389Adverb-אֶת־H853Direct object markerof those that chewמִמַּֽעֲלֵ֣יH5927Preposition-m | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural constructthe cudהַגֵּרָ֔הH1625Article | Noun - feminine singularor have a completely dividedוּמִמַּפְרִיסֵ֥יH6536Conjunctive waw, Preposition | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct. . .הַשְּׁסוּעָ֑הH8156Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular-אֶֽת־H853Direct object markerhoofהַפַּרְסָ֖הH6541Article | Noun - feminine singularyou are notלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto eatתֹֽאכְלוּ֙H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralthe followingזֶ֞הH2088Pronoun - masculine singularthe camelהַ֠גָּמָלH1581Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe rabbitהָאַרְנֶ֨בֶתH768Article | Noun - feminine singular[or]וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe rock badgerהַשָּׁפָ֜ןH8227Article | Noun - masculine singularAlthoughכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiontheyהֵ֗מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralchewמַעֲלֵ֧הH5927Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular constructthe cudגֵרָ֣הH1625Noun - feminine singularthey do notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlehave a dividedהִפְרִ֔יסוּH6536Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralhoofוּפַרְסָה֙H6541Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularTheyהֵ֖םH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralare uncleanטְמֵאִ֥יםH2931Adjective - masculine pluralfor youלָכֶֽם׃Preposition | second person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or the coney or the hyrax
Verse 8

Original words

as well asוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe pigהַ֠חֲזִירH2386Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .כִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthough itהוּא֙H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularhas a dividedמַפְרִ֨יסH6536Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular constructhoofפַּרְסָ֥הH6541Noun - feminine singularit does notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlechew the cudגֵרָ֔הH1625Noun - feminine singularItה֖וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis uncleanטָמֵ֥אH2931Adjective - masculine singularfor youלָכֶ֑םPreposition | second person masculine pluralYou must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleeatתֹאכֵ֔לוּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralits meatמִבְּשָׂרָם֙H1320Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralor touchתִגָּֽעוּ׃סH5060Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralits carcassוּבְנִבְלָתָ֖םH5038Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural. . .לֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particle
Verse 9

Original words

-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-זֶה֙H2088Pronoun - masculine singularOf all [the creatures]מִכֹּ֖לH3605Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularthat [live]אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativein the waterבַּמָּ֑יִםH4325Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralyou may eatתֹּֽאכְל֔וּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralanythingכֹּ֧לH3605Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relative-ל֛וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularwith finsסְנַפִּ֥ירH5579Noun - masculine singularand scalesוְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂתH7193Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular. . .תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

but you may notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleeatתֹאכֵ֑לוּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralanythingוְכֹ֨לH3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֧רH834Pronoun - relativedoes notאֵֽין־H369Adverbhave finsסְנַפִּ֥ירH5579Noun - masculine singularand scalesוְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂתH7193Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularitה֖וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis uncleanטָמֵ֥אH2931Adjective - masculine singularfor youלָכֶֽם׃סPreposition | second person masculine plural
Verse 11

Original words

You may eatתֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralanyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcleanטְהֹרָ֖הH2889Adjective - feminine singularbirdצִפּ֥וֹרH6833Noun - common singular
Verse 12

Original words

but theseוְזֶ֕הH2088Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeyou may notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleeatתֹאכְל֖וּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural. . .מֵהֶ֑םPreposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine pluralthe eagleהַנֶּ֥שֶׁרH5404Article | Noun - masculine singularthe bearded vultureוְהַפֶּ֖רֶסH6538Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe black vultureוְהָֽעָזְנִיָּֽה׃H5822Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

the red kiteוְהָרָאָה֙H7201Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe falconהָ֣אַיָּ֔הH344Article | Noun - feminine singularany kindלְמִינָֽהּ׃H4327Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularof kiteוְהַדַּיָּ֖הH1772Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

-וְאֵ֥תH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markeranyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructkindלְמִינֽוֹ׃H4327Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularof ravenעֹרֵ֖בH6158Noun - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

-וְאֵת֙H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markervvvבַּ֣תH1323Noun - feminine singular constructthe ostrichהַֽיַּעֲנָ֔הH3284Article | Noun - feminine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe screech owlהַתַּחְמָ֖סH8464Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe gullהַשָּׁ֑חַףH7828Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerany kindלְמִינֵֽהוּ׃H4327Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularof hawkהַנֵּ֖ץH5322Article | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Literally the daughter of the ostrich or the daughter of the owl
Verse 16

Original words

-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe little owlהַכּ֥וֹסH3563Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe great owlהַיַּנְשׁ֖וּףH3244Article | Noun - masculine singularthe white owlוְהַתִּנְשָֽׁמֶת׃H8580Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

the desert owlוְהַקָּאָ֥תH6893Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular-וְאֶֽת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe ospreyהָרָחָ֖מָהH7360Article | Noun - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe cormorantהַשָּׁלָֽךְ׃H7994Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

the storkוְהַ֣חֲסִידָ֔הH2624Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singularany kindלְמִינָ֑הּH4327Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularof heronוְהָאֲנָפָ֖הH601Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singularthe hoopoeוְהַדּוּכִיפַ֖תH1744Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singularor the batוְהָעֲטַלֵּֽף׃H5847Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Allוְכֹל֙H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructflyingהָע֔וֹףH5775Article | Noun - masculine singularinsectsשֶׁ֣רֶץH8318Noun - masculine singular constructare uncleanטָמֵ֥אH2931Adjective - masculine singular. . .ה֖וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularfor youלָכֶ֑םPreposition | second person masculine pluralthey may notלֹ֖אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebe eatenיֵאָכֵֽלוּ׃H398Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 20

Original words

But you may eatתֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralanyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcleanטָה֖וֹרH2889Adjective - masculine singularbirdע֥וֹףH5775Noun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

You are notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleto eatתֹאכְל֣וּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralanyכָל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcarcassנְ֠בֵלָהH5038Noun - feminine singularyou may give itתִּתְּנֶ֣נָּהH5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singularto the foreigner residingלַגֵּ֨רH1616Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativewithin your gatesבִּשְׁעָרֶ֜יךָH8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularand he may eat itוַאֲכָלָ֗הּH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularorא֤וֹH176Conjunctionyou may sellמָכֹר֙H4376Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteit to a foreignerלְנָכְרִ֔יH5237Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singularForכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionyouאַתָּ֔הH859Pronoun - second person masculine singularare a holyקָדוֹשׁ֙H6918Adjective - masculine singularpeopleעַ֤םH5971Noun - masculine singularbelonging to the LORDלַיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֶ֑יךָH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularYou must notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecookתְבַשֵּׁ֥לH1310Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singulara young goatגְּדִ֖יH1423Noun - masculine singularin its mother’sאִמּֽוֹ׃פH517Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularmilkבַּחֲלֵ֥בH2461Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.