Deuteronomy 26:14
I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.
Original Language Analysis
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
בְאֹנִ֜י
thereof in my mourning
H205
בְאֹנִ֜י
thereof in my mourning
Strong's:
H205
Word #:
3 of 20
strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol
מִמֶּ֗נּוּ
H4480
מִמֶּ֗נּוּ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 20
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
H4480
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
7 of 20
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נָתַ֥תִּי
use nor given
H5414
נָתַ֥תִּי
use nor given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
10 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ
H4480
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
11 of 20
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
לְמֵ֑ת
ought thereof for the dead
H4191
לְמֵ֑ת
ought thereof for the dead
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
12 of 20
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי
but I have hearkened
H8085
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי
but I have hearkened
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
13 of 20
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהָ֔י
my God
H430
אֱלֹהָ֔י
my God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
16 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
עָשִׂ֕יתִי
and have done
H6213
עָשִׂ֕יתִי
and have done
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
17 of 20
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כְּכֹ֖ל
H3605
כְּכֹ֖ל
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)
Cross References
Leviticus 7:20But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.Leviticus 21:1And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:Leviticus 21:11Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;Hosea 9:4They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.Psalms 106:28They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Historical Context
Given circa 1406 BC before Israel encountered Canaanite religious practices that heavily emphasized death cults and ancestor veneration. Archaeological evidence from Canaan shows elaborate tomb offerings and apparent belief in feeding the dead. Israel's law explicitly rejected these practices, requiring the living to care for the living (Levites, poor) rather than making offerings to the dead. The prohibition safeguarded monotheistic worship and distinguished Israel from necromantic paganism.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God prohibit using sacred resources for death-related practices? What theological truth does this protect?
- How do modern 'offerings to the dead' (elaborate funerals while neglecting the living poor) violate this principle?
- What's the relationship between ceremonial cleanness in the Old Testament and moral purity for Christians?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I have not eaten thereof in my mourning—the tithe wasn't consumed during ritual uncleanness associated with mourning the dead (contact with corpses caused temporary uncleanness, Numbers 19:11-22). Neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use—no portion was diverted to profane purposes or handled in ceremonially unclean states. Nor given ought thereof for the dead—prohibiting use of the tithe in pagan funeral customs or offerings to the deceased, practices common in surrounding cultures but forbidden to Israel.
These three negative declarations protected the tithe's sacred character. The prohibition on eating while mourning and giving for the dead distinguished Israelite practices from pagan death cults that venerated ancestors and made offerings to spirits. But I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me—the positive conclusion affirmed complete obedience to all tithing regulations. Holiness required both avoiding prohibited actions and performing required ones.