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

3 You must not eat any detestable thing.

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

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

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

7 But 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,

8 as 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.

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

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

11 You may eat any clean bird,

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

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

14 any kind of raven,

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

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

17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant,

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

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

20 But you may eat any clean bird.

21 You 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 not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle eat תֹאכַ֖ל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct detestable thing תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃ H8441 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

These זֹ֥את H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular are the animals הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה H929 Article | Noun - feminine singular that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative you may eat תֹּאכֵ֑לוּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural The ox שׁ֕וֹר H7794 Noun - masculine singular . . . שֵׂ֥ה H7716 Noun - masculine singular construct the sheep כְשָׂבִ֖ים H3775 Noun - masculine plural . . . וְשֵׂ֥ה H7716 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the goat עִזִּֽים׃ H5795 Noun - feminine plural

BSB notes

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

Original words

the deer אַיָּ֥ל H354 Noun - masculine singular the gazelle וּצְבִ֖י H6643 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular the roe deer וְיַחְמ֑וּר H3180 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular the wild goat וְאַקּ֥וֹ H689 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular the ibex וְדִישֹׁ֖ן H1788 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular the antelope וּתְא֥וֹ H8377 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and the mountain sheep וָזָֽמֶר׃ H2169 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

You may eat תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct animal בְּהֵמָ֞ה H929 Noun - feminine singular that has a split שֶׁ֙סַע֙ H8157 Noun - masculine singular . . . מַפְרֶ֣סֶת H6536 Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular construct hoof פַּרְסָ֗ה H6541 Noun - feminine singular divided וְשֹׁסַ֤עַת H8156 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct in two שְׁתֵּ֣י H8147 Number - feminine dual construct . . . פְרָס֔וֹת H6541 Noun - feminine plural and that chews מַעֲלַ֥ת H5927 Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular construct the cud גֵּרָ֖ה H1625 Noun - feminine singular . . . בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה H929 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֹתָ֖הּ H853 Direct object marker | third person feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

But אַ֣ךְ H389 Adverb - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker of those that chew מִמַּֽעֲלֵ֣י H5927 Preposition-m | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct the cud הַגֵּרָ֔ה H1625 Article | Noun - feminine singular or have a completely divided וּמִמַּפְרִיסֵ֥י H6536 Conjunctive waw, Preposition | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct . . . הַשְּׁסוּעָ֑ה H8156 Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker hoof הַפַּרְסָ֖ה H6541 Article | Noun - feminine singular you are not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle to eat תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural the following זֶ֞ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular the camel הַ֠גָּמָל H1581 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the rabbit הָאַרְנֶ֨בֶת H768 Article | Noun - feminine singular [or] וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the rock badger הַשָּׁפָ֜ן H8227 Article | Noun - masculine singular Although כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction they הֵ֗מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural chew מַעֲלֵ֧ה H5927 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct the cud גֵרָ֣ה H1625 Noun - feminine singular they do not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle have a divided הִפְרִ֔יסוּ H6536 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural hoof וּפַרְסָה֙ H6541 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular They הֵ֖ם H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural are unclean טְמֵאִ֥ים H2931 Adjective - masculine plural for you לָכֶֽם׃ Preposition | second person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or the coney or the hyrax
Verse 8

Original words

as well as וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the pig הַ֠חֲזִיר H2386 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction though it הוּא֙ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular has a divided מַפְרִ֨יס H6536 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct hoof פַּרְסָ֥ה H6541 Noun - feminine singular it does not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle chew the cud גֵרָ֔ה H1625 Noun - feminine singular It ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is unclean טָמֵ֥א H2931 Adjective - masculine singular for you לָכֶ֑ם Preposition | second person masculine plural You must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle eat תֹאכֵ֔לוּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural its meat מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ H1320 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural or touch תִגָּֽעוּ׃ס H5060 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural its carcass וּבְנִבְלָתָ֖ם H5038 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural . . . לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle
Verse 9

Original words

- אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker - זֶה֙ H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular Of all [the creatures] מִכֹּ֖ל H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular that [live] אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative in the water בַּמָּ֑יִם H4325 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural you may eat תֹּֽאכְל֔וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural anything כֹּ֧ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative - ל֛וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular with fins סְנַפִּ֥יר H5579 Noun - masculine singular and scales וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת H7193 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular . . . תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

but you may not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle eat תֹאכֵ֑לוּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural anything וְכֹ֨ל H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative does not אֵֽין־ H369 Adverb have fins סְנַפִּ֥יר H5579 Noun - masculine singular and scales וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת H7193 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular it ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is unclean טָמֵ֥א H2931 Adjective - masculine singular for you לָכֶֽם׃ס Preposition | second person masculine plural
Verse 11

Original words

You may eat תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct clean טְהֹרָ֖ה H2889 Adjective - feminine singular bird צִפּ֥וֹר H6833 Noun - common singular
Verse 12

Original words

but these וְזֶ֕ה H2088 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative you may not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle eat תֹאכְל֖וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . מֵהֶ֑ם Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural the eagle הַנֶּ֥שֶׁר H5404 Article | Noun - masculine singular the bearded vulture וְהַפֶּ֖רֶס H6538 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular the black vulture וְהָֽעָזְנִיָּֽה׃ H5822 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

the red kite וְהָרָאָה֙ H7201 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the falcon הָ֣אַיָּ֔ה H344 Article | Noun - feminine singular any kind לְמִינָֽהּ׃ H4327 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular of kite וְהַדַּיָּ֖ה H1772 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 14

Original words

- וְאֵ֥ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct kind לְמִינֽוֹ׃ H4327 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular of raven עֹרֵ֖ב H6158 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

- וְאֵת֙ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker vvv בַּ֣ת H1323 Noun - feminine singular construct the ostrich הַֽיַּעֲנָ֔ה H3284 Article | Noun - feminine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the screech owl הַתַּחְמָ֖ס H8464 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the gull הַשָּׁ֑חַף H7828 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker any kind לְמִינֵֽהוּ׃ H4327 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular of hawk הַנֵּ֖ץ H5322 Article | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

- אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the little owl הַכּ֥וֹס H3563 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the great owl הַיַּנְשׁ֖וּף H3244 Article | Noun - masculine singular the white owl וְהַתִּנְשָֽׁמֶת׃ H8580 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

the desert owl וְהַקָּאָ֥ת H6893 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular - וְאֶֽת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the osprey הָרָחָ֖מָה H7360 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the cormorant הַשָּׁלָֽךְ׃ H7994 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

the stork וְהַ֣חֲסִידָ֔ה H2624 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular any kind לְמִינָ֑הּ H4327 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular of heron וְהָאֲנָפָ֖ה H601 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular the hoopoe וְהַדּוּכִיפַ֖ת H1744 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular or the bat וְהָעֲטַלֵּֽף׃ H5847 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

All וְכֹל֙ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct flying הָע֔וֹף H5775 Article | Noun - masculine singular insects שֶׁ֣רֶץ H8318 Noun - masculine singular construct are unclean טָמֵ֥א H2931 Adjective - masculine singular . . . ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular for you לָכֶ֑ם Preposition | second person masculine plural they may not לֹ֖א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be eaten יֵאָכֵֽלוּ׃ H398 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 20

Original words

But you may eat תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct clean טָה֖וֹר H2889 Adjective - masculine singular bird ע֥וֹף H5775 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

You are not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle to eat תֹאכְל֣וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct carcass נְ֠בֵלָה H5038 Noun - feminine singular you may give it תִּתְּנֶ֣נָּה H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular to the foreigner residing לַגֵּ֨ר H1616 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative within your gates בִּשְׁעָרֶ֜יךָ H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and he may eat it וַאֲכָלָ֗הּ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular or א֤וֹ H176 Conjunction you may sell מָכֹר֙ H4376 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute it to a foreigner לְנָכְרִ֔י H5237 Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction you אַתָּ֔ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular are a holy קָדוֹשׁ֙ H6918 Adjective - masculine singular people עַ֤ם H5971 Noun - masculine singular belonging to the LORD לַיהוָ֖ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular You must not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle cook תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל H1310 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a young goat גְּדִ֖י H1423 Noun - masculine singular in its mother’s אִמּֽוֹ׃פ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular milk בַּחֲלֵ֥ב H2461 Preposition-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.