Deuteronomy 16:11

Authorized King James Version

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And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

Original Language Analysis

וְשָֽׂמַחְתָּ֞ And thou shalt rejoice H8055
וְשָֽׂמַחְתָּ֞ And thou shalt rejoice
Strong's: H8055
Word #: 1 of 25
probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
לִפְנֵ֣י׀ before H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י׀ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 2 of 25
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 #: 3 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 4 of 25
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
אַתָּ֨ה H859
אַתָּ֨ה
Strong's: H859
Word #: 5 of 25
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
וּבִנְךָ֣ thou and thy son H1121
וּבִנְךָ֣ thou and thy son
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 6 of 25
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וּבִתֶּךָ֮ and thy daughter H1323
וּבִתֶּךָ֮ and thy daughter
Strong's: H1323
Word #: 7 of 25
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וְעַבְדְּךָ֣ and thy manservant H5650
וְעַבְדְּךָ֣ and thy manservant
Strong's: H5650
Word #: 8 of 25
a servant
וַֽאֲמָתֶךָ֒ and thy maidservant H519
וַֽאֲמָתֶךָ֒ and thy maidservant
Strong's: H519
Word #: 9 of 25
a maid-servant or female slave
וְהַלֵּוִי֙ and the Levite H3881
וְהַלֵּוִי֙ and the Levite
Strong's: H3881
Word #: 10 of 25
a levite or descendant of levi
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 11 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ that is within thy gates H8179
בִּשְׁעָרֶ֔יךָ that is within thy gates
Strong's: H8179
Word #: 12 of 25
an opening, i.e., door or gate
וְהַגֵּ֛ר and the stranger H1616
וְהַגֵּ֛ר and the stranger
Strong's: H1616
Word #: 13 of 25
properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner
וְהַיָּת֥וֹם and the fatherless H3490
וְהַיָּת֥וֹם and the fatherless
Strong's: H3490
Word #: 14 of 25
a bereaved person
וְהָֽאַלְמָנָ֖ה and the widow H490
וְהָֽאַלְמָנָ֖ה and the widow
Strong's: H490
Word #: 15 of 25
a widow; also a desolate place
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 16 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ that are among H7130
בְּקִרְבֶּ֑ךָ that are among
Strong's: H7130
Word #: 17 of 25
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
בַּמָּק֗וֹם you in the place H4725
בַּמָּק֗וֹם you in the place
Strong's: H4725
Word #: 18 of 25
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 19 of 25
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִבְחַר֙ hath chosen H977
יִבְחַר֙ hath chosen
Strong's: H977
Word #: 20 of 25
properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֣ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 21 of 25
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God H430
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ thy God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 22 of 25
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
לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן to place H7931
לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן to place
Strong's: H7931
Word #: 23 of 25
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
שְׁמ֖וֹ his name H8034
שְׁמ֖וֹ his name
Strong's: H8034
Word #: 24 of 25
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
שָֽׁם׃ H8033
שָֽׁם׃
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 25 of 25
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

Cross References

Deuteronomy 12:12And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.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 12:18But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.Isaiah 64:5Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.Romans 5:11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.2 Corinthians 1:24Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.Deuteronomy 16:14And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.Habakkuk 3:18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Analysis & Commentary

And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God—The Hebrew vesamachta (וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֞) commands joy, making gladness a worship obligation, not optional sentiment. The phrase 'before the LORD' (לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה) indicates the Jerusalem sanctuary, where God's presence dwelt. Feast joy happens in God's presence, not private celebration.

The inclusivity is striking: thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite...and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow. Seven groups encompass the entire covenant community—family (son/daughter), household workers (servants), clergy (Levites), and the vulnerable triad (stranger/orphan/widow). God commands egalitarian feast participation, erasing social hierarchy. The repeated 'and' (וְ) in Hebrew emphasizes each group's equal inclusion. This reflects God's concern for marginalized persons and anticipates the gospel's barrier-breaking inclusivity (Galatians 3:28).

Historical Context

This describes the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost), seven weeks after Passover, celebrating the wheat harvest. Celebrated in late spring (May/June), it required pilgrimage to Jerusalem (after settlement). The feast lasted one day (contrast Tabernacles' seven days). Jews later associated Shavuot with Sinai's covenant (Exodus 19), though Deuteronomy emphasizes harvest thanksgiving. New Testament Pentecost (Acts 2) occurred during this feast, when the Spirit created the new covenant community with radical inclusivity matching this command.

Questions for Reflection

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