Deuteronomy 14:26
And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
Original Language Analysis
וְנָֽתַתָּ֣ה
And thou shalt bestow
H5414
וְנָֽתַתָּ֣ה
And thou shalt bestow
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 22
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
הַכֶּ֡סֶף
that money
H3701
הַכֶּ֡סֶף
that money
Strong's:
H3701
Word #:
2 of 22
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
בְּכֹל֩
H3605
בְּכֹל֩
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
3 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ
for whatsoever thy soul
H5315
נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ
for whatsoever thy soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
6 of 22
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
בַּבָּקָ֣ר
for oxen
H1241
בַּבָּקָ֣ר
for oxen
Strong's:
H1241
Word #:
7 of 22
a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
וּבַצֹּ֗אן
or for sheep
H6629
וּבַצֹּ֗אן
or for sheep
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
8 of 22
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
וּבַיַּ֙יִן֙
or for wine
H3196
וּבַיַּ֙יִן֙
or for wine
Strong's:
H3196
Word #:
9 of 22
wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
וּבַשֵּׁכָ֔ר
or for strong drink
H7941
וּבַשֵּׁכָ֔ר
or for strong drink
Strong's:
H7941
Word #:
10 of 22
an intoxicant, i.e., intensely alcoholic liquor
וּבְכֹ֛ל
H3605
וּבְכֹ֛ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
תִּֽשְׁאָלְךָ֖
desireth
H7592
תִּֽשְׁאָלְךָ֖
desireth
Strong's:
H7592
Word #:
13 of 22
to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand
נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ
for whatsoever thy soul
H5315
נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ
for whatsoever thy soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
14 of 22
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
שָּׁ֗ם
H8033
לִפְנֵי֙
there before
H6440
לִפְנֵי֙
there before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
17 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
18 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
19 of 22
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
Cross References
Psalms 106:14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.Ecclesiastes 9:7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.Matthew 21:12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,Deuteronomy 12:7And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.Deuteronomy 26:11And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern festivals were somber sacrificial rituals appeasing angry deities. Israel's festivals, by contrast, were joyful family celebrations of God's goodness—Passover remembering liberation, Pentecost celebrating harvest, Tabernacles rejoicing in provision. This 'eat and rejoice' command distinguished YHWH worship from pagan fear.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's permission to spend tithe-money on 'whatever your soul desires' correct grimly ascetic views of Christianity?
- In what ways do you 'rejoice before the LORD' with the material blessings He's provided?
- How do you balance celebrating God's gifts (food, drink, possessions) without falling into gluttony or materialism?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after (תְּאַוֶּה נַפְשְׁךָ, te'aveh nafshekha, 'your soul desires')—Astonishingly, God permits buying oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth. This isn't license for gluttony but demonstration that worship includes joy, celebration, and material blessing.
Legalists have seized on strong drink (שֵׁכָר, shekar, fermented beverage) to prove teetotalism, ignoring Scripture's consistent distinction: drunkenness is sinful (Ephesians 5:18), but drinking is permissible (Psalm 104:15, John 2:1-11). Thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice—covenant life combines holiness with happiness, obedience with abundance. Jesus embodied this balance: serious about sin, celebratory about grace.