King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Ye [are] the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"You are the people of ADONAI your God. You are not to gash yourselves or shave the hair above your foreheads in mourning for the dead,
Berean Standard Bible:
You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,
American Standard Version:
Ye are the children of Jehovah your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye are the children{H1121} of the LORD{H3068} your God{H430}: ye shall not cut{H1413} yourselves, nor make{H7760} any baldness{H7144} between your eyes{H5869} for the dead{H4191}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Romans 9:8
- That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Galatians 3:26
- For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Leviticus 21:5
- They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
Romans 9:26
- And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Hebrews 2:10
- ¶ For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Hosea 1:10
- Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people, [there] it shall be said unto them, [Ye are] the sons of the living God.
Jeremiah 41:5
- That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, [even] fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring [them] to the house of the LORD.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Deuteronomy 14:1
Deuteronomy 14:1 is part of the second discourse of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, which is a restatement of the law given to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The historical context of this verse is set during the last days of Moses's life, as he leads the Israelites through the wilderness, having left Egypt and wandered for 40 years.
The themes of Deuteronomy 14:1 include:
1. **Identity as God's People**: The verse begins by establishing the Israelites' relationship with God, referring to them as "the children of the LORD your God." This emphasizes their unique status as God's chosen people, set apart for His purposes.
2. **Prohibition of Mourning Rituals**: The command not to cut themselves or make baldness between their eyes is a directive against certain mourning practices of the time, which were often associated with the worship of other gods. These practices were common among surrounding nations but were forbidden for the Israelites. Such acts were considered pagan and contrary to the holiness that God required of His people.
3. **Separation from Pagan Customs**: The broader context of Deuteronomy is the call for the Israelites to be holy and to separate themselves from the customs and religions of the nations around them. This command is part of a larger set of instructions designed to maintain the purity of their worship of Yahweh and to prevent syncretism with Canaanite religious practices.
4. **Holiness Code**: This verse is part of what scholars refer to as the "Holiness Code" within Deuteronomy, which includes various laws and regulations aimed at guiding the moral, religious, and social life of the Israelites. The code emphasizes the importance of maintaining a distinct Israelite identity and worship practices that honor Yahweh alone.
In summary, Deuteronomy 14:1 addresses the Israelites as God's children and prohibits them from engaging in specific pagan mourning rituals, reinforcing their distinct identity and promoting religious practices that align with the worship of the one true God, Yahweh. This command is part of a broader set of laws intended to ensure the holiness and separation of the Israelites from the surrounding nations.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; 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 deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. - Strong's Number: H1413
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדַד
Transliteration: gâdad
Pronunciation: gaw-dad'
Description: a primitive root (compare גּוּד); to crowd; also to gash (as if by pressing into); assemble (selves by troops), gather (selves together, self in troops), cut selves. - Strong's Number: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H7144
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קׇרְחָה
Transliteration: qorchâh
Pronunciation: kor-khaw'
Description: or קׇרְחָא; (Ezekiel 27:31), from קָרַח; baldness; bald(-ness), [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.