ScriptureDepth's study of Deuteronomy 14
“You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself. You may give it to the foreigner living among you who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
Deuteronomy 14:21
Yahweh commands the Israelites not to eat anything that dies of itself, setting boundaries for their holiness and care for the community, particularly for the 'foreigner' among them.
What Deuteronomy 14 is about
Yahweh identifies the Israelites as His children. They must not cut themselves or make baldness for the dead (vv. 1-2). They are a holy people chosen by Yahweh. Dietary laws are set, stating they must not eat any abominable thing (vv. 3-8). Clean animals include the ox, sheep, and goat. They cannot eat unclean animals such as the camel, hare, or pig. Only animals that have fins and scales may be eaten from the waters (vv. 9-20). They should not eat animals that die of themselves, but may give such animals to foreigners (v. 21). The Israelites must tithe all their produce (vv. 22-29). They should bring their tithe to the place Yahweh chooses and eat there. They should not neglect the Levite or the needy, including the foreigner, fatherless, and widow, who will eat and be satisfied.
Yahweh promises to bless the Israelites in all their work if they follow these commands.
Deuteronomy 14 at a glance
- Deuteronomy 14:1–2Identity as Children of Yahweh
- Deuteronomy 14:3–8Dietary Laws Explained
- Deuteronomy 14:9–20Clean and Unclean Animals
- Deuteronomy 14:21Prohibition Against Certain Foods
- Deuteronomy 14:22–29Tithing and Community Care
Key verse: Deuteronomy 14:21
One thing to notice
Vv. 4-8 provide a list of clean animals, including those that 'chews the cud' and 'has a split hoof'. Prohibited animals are clearly identified, giving specific criteria for what may and may not be eaten.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Deuteronomy 14 (WEB)
Identity as Children of Yahweh Deuteronomy 14:1–2
1Verse 1. You are the children of Yahweh your God. You shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2Verse 2. For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Dietary Laws Explained Deuteronomy 14:3–8
3Verse 3. You shall not eat any abominable thing. 4Verse 4. These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5Verse 5. the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the chamois. 6Verse 6. Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, that may you eat. 7Verse 7. Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof cloven: the camel, the hare, and the rabbit. Because they chew the cud but don’t part the hoof, they are unclean to you.
8Verse 8. The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat, and you shall not touch their carcasses.
Clean and Unclean Animals Deuteronomy 14:9–20
9Verse 9. These you may eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales may you eat. 10Verse 10. You shall not eat whatever doesn’t have fins and scales. It is unclean to you. 11Verse 11. Of all clean birds you may eat. 12Verse 12. But these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, 13Verse 13. the red kite, the falcon, the kite after its kind, 14Verse 14. every raven after its kind,
15Verse 15. the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the hawk after its kind, 16Verse 16. the little owl, the great owl, the horned owl, 17Verse 17. the pelican, the vulture, the cormorant, 18Verse 18. the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. 19Verse 19. All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten. 20Verse 20. Of all clean birds you may eat.
Prohibition Against Certain Foods Deuteronomy 14:21
21Verse 21. You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself. You may give it to the foreigner living among you who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Tithing and Community Care Deuteronomy 14:22–29
22Verse 22. You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes out of the field year by year. 23Verse 23. You shall eat before Yahweh your God, in the place which he chooses, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Yahweh your God always. 24Verse 24. If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which Yahweh your God shall choose, to set his name there, when Yahweh your God shall bless you;
25Verse 25. then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose. 26Verse 26. You shall trade the money for whatever your soul desires, for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27Verse 27. You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 28Verse 28. At the end of every three years you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates.
29Verse 29. The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the foreigner living among you, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Deuteronomy 14
Holiness
In vv. 1-2, the Israelites are called 'the children of Yahweh your God', marking their identity as a holy people. They are instructed against practices like cutting themselves for the dead, which distinguishes them from other nations. This chapter articulates that Yahweh has 'chosen you to be a people for his own possession', shaping their communal identity and lifestyle choices in alignment with their relationship with God.
Community Care
In vv. 27-29, the text outlines the responsibility of the community to care for the Levite, who lacks an inheritance, as well as the foreigner, fatherless, and widow. It states that these vulnerable members of society 'shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied', indicating the expectation for the community to ensure their well-being. This approach promotes inclusivity and is central to fostering social harmony within the community.
Obedience to God
Throughout the chapter, obedience to Yahweh’s dietary laws is highlighted, particularly in vv. 3-8, where specific animals are designated as clean or unclean. This instruction calls for adherence to God's commandments, as seen in the prohibition of consuming unclean animals like the pig. The chapter articulates that such obedience is crucial for the Israelites to maintain their covenant relationship with God and to live in accordance with His will.
Identity as God's People
In v. 1, the Israelites are identified as 'the children of Yahweh your God', establishing their identity which influences their behaviors. This identity informs their actions, particularly in dietary laws and tithing as seen in vv. 22-26. The text clarifies that being chosen by God requires them to live in ways consistent with their covenant relationship, affecting their interactions within the community.
Chapter outline
How Deuteronomy 14 unfolds
Deuteronomy 14:1–2 Identity as Children of Yahweh
Yahweh's people are called 'the children of Yahweh' (v. 1), with specific prohibitions against self-mutilation for the dead, emphasizing their distinct identity as a holy people (v. 2).
Deuteronomy 14:3–8 Dietary Laws Explained
Dietary laws are specified, with permissible animals being 'the ox, the sheep, the goat' and others (vv. 4-5), while certain animals are deemed unclean, like the pig (v. 8).
Deuteronomy 14:9–20 Clean and Unclean Animals
Guidelines for clean and unclean animals are elaborated, detailing that only those with fins and scales may be eaten from the waters (v. 9), while winged creeping things are unclean (v. 19).
Deuteronomy 14:21 Prohibition Against Certain Foods
In verse 21, the people are told, 'You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself,' allowing foreigners to eat it or to sell it to them. The verse concludes with a prohibition against boiling a goat in its mother's milk.
Deuteronomy 14:22–29 Tithing and Community Care
Tithing requirements are laid out, stating that Israelites must bring their tithe to the chosen place of worship (vv. 22-23), and provisions are made for the Levite and other vulnerable members of the community (vv. 28-29).
Key verses
Deuteronomy 14:21Yahweh commands the Israelites not to eat anything that dies of itself, setting boundaries for their holiness and care for the community, particularly for the 'foreigner' among them.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Deuteronomy 14
- observeIn v2, what does it mean to be a 'holy people' to Yahweh?
- observeWhat animals are designated as 'unclean' in vv. 7-8?
- interpretThe command about not boiling a young goat in its mother’s milk (v21): what cultural practice might this address?
- interpretIn v29, why are the Levite, foreigner, orphan, and widow specifically mentioned for provision?
- applyWhen have you set aside something for others, as seen in the tithing practices in this chapter?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Deuteronomy 14
- Deuteronomy 12Deuteronomy 14:27 and Deuteronomy 12:12Both mention the Levite: Deuteronomy 14:27 says he has no portion, while Deuteronomy 12:12 states to rejoice before Yahweh.
- 1 Peter 2Deuteronomy 14:2 and 1 Peter 2:9Both declare a holy people: Deuteronomy 14:2 states Yahweh has chosen a people, while 1 Peter 2:9 describes a royal priesthood.
- Deuteronomy 7Deuteronomy 14:2 and Deuteronomy 7:6Both affirm a chosen people: Deuteronomy 14:2 states Yahweh chose you above all, while Deuteronomy 7:6 reiterates this choice.
- Leviticus 11Deuteronomy 14:2 and Leviticus 11:44Both call for holiness: Deuteronomy 14:2 states you are a holy people, while Leviticus 11:44 commands to be holy as Yahweh is holy.
- Leviticus 19Deuteronomy 14:1 and Leviticus 19:28Both prohibit cutting: Deuteronomy 14:1 states not to cut yourselves, while Leviticus 19:28 forbids cuttings for the dead.
- Exodus 19Deuteronomy 14:2 and Exodus 19:5Both affirm possession: Deuteronomy 14:2 declares you are a holy people, while Exodus 19:5 states you shall be my own possession.
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