Deuteronomy 15:10

Authorized King James Version

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Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

Original Language Analysis

בְּתִתְּךָ֣ Thou shalt surely H5414
בְּתִתְּךָ֣ Thou shalt surely
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 1 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בְּתִתְּךָ֣ Thou shalt surely H5414
בְּתִתְּךָ֣ Thou shalt surely
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 2 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
ל֔וֹ H0
ל֔וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 3 of 20
וְלֹֽא H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 4 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵרַ֥ע H7489
יֵרַ֥ע
Strong's: H7489
Word #: 5 of 20
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)
לְבָֽבְךָ֖ him and thine heart H3824
לְבָֽבְךָ֖ him and thine heart
Strong's: H3824
Word #: 6 of 20
the heart (as the most interior organ)
בְּתִתְּךָ֣ Thou shalt surely H5414
בְּתִתְּךָ֣ Thou shalt surely
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 7 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
ל֑וֹ H0
ל֑וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 8 of 20
כִּ֞י H3588
כִּ֞י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 9 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בִּגְלַ֣ל׀ unto him because H1558
בִּגְלַ֣ל׀ unto him because
Strong's: H1558
Word #: 10 of 20
a circumstance (as rolled around); only used adverbially, on account of
הַדָּבָ֣ר that for this thing H1697
הַדָּבָ֣ר that for this thing
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 11 of 20
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
הַזֶּ֗ה H2088
הַזֶּ֗ה
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 12 of 20
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ shall bless H1288
יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֙ shall bless
Strong's: H1288
Word #: 13 of 20
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 14 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 15 of 20
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
בְּכָֽל H3605
בְּכָֽל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 16 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַעֲשֶׂ֔ךָ thee in all thy works H4639
מַעֲשֶׂ֔ךָ thee in all thy works
Strong's: H4639
Word #: 17 of 20
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
וּבְכֹ֖ל H3605
וּבְכֹ֖ל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 18 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִשְׁלַ֥ח and in all that thou puttest H4916
מִשְׁלַ֥ח and in all that thou puttest
Strong's: H4916
Word #: 19 of 20
a sending out, i.e., (abstractly) presentation (favorable), or seizure (unfavorable); also (concretely) a place of dismissal, or a business to be disc
יָדֶֽךָ׃ thine hand H3027
יָדֶֽךָ׃ thine hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 20 of 20
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

Cross References

Proverbs 22:9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.Hebrews 13:16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.Isaiah 58:10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:Deuteronomy 14:29And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.Deuteronomy 24:19When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.Isaiah 32:8But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.Acts 20:35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.Deuteronomy 15:4Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:1 Peter 4:11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Analysis & Commentary

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. The emphatic naton titten lo (giving, you shall give) requires actual generosity, while lo-yera levavkha (your heart shall not be grieved/grudging) demands cheerful giving. Paul quotes this principle: 'God loveth a cheerful giver' (2 Corinthians 9:7). External compliance with internal resentment perverts obedience into legalism.

The promise ki biglal hadavar hazeh yebarekh-kha YHWH (because of this thing the LORD will bless you) establishes reciprocal generosity—giving releases God's blessing. Bekhol-ma'asekha (in all your works) and bekhol-mishlakh yadekha (in all that your hand undertakes) promise comprehensive prosperity for those who give freely. Proverbs 11:24-25 observes this paradox: 'There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.' Jesus promised: 'Give, and it shall be given unto you' (Luke 6:38). Generosity creates overflow, stinginess creates lack.

Historical Context

This command climaxes the Sabbatical year legislation (Deuteronomy 15:1-11), grounding economic ethics in covenant relationship. Ancient economies lacked social safety nets; charity came from personal/family resources. Israel's ethic of open-handed generosity distinguished them from surrounding nations. The early church's economic sharing (Acts 4:32-37) and Paul's collection for Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8-9) demonstrate continuity with this covenantal generosity.

Questions for Reflection

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