King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Ye shall not eat [of] any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that [is] in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"You are not to eat any animal that dies naturally; although you may let a stranger staying with you eat it, or sell it to a foreigner; because you are a holy people for ADONAI your God. "You are not to boil a young animal in its mother's milk.
Berean Standard Bible:
You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
American Standard Version:
Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou mayest give it unto the sojourner that is within thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto a foreigner: for thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Ye shall not eat{H398} of any thing that dieth of itself{H5038}: thou shalt give{H5414} it unto the stranger{H1616} that is in thy gates{H8179}, that he may eat{H398} it; or thou mayest sell{H4376} it unto an alien{H5237}: for thou art an holy{H6918} people{H5971} unto the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}. Thou shalt not seethe{H1310} a kid{H1423} in his mother's{H517} milk{H2461}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 23:19
- The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Exodus 34:26
- The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Leviticus 17:15
- And every soul that eateth that which died [of itself], or that which was torn [with beasts, whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
Deuteronomy 14:2
- For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth.
Leviticus 22:8
- That which dieth of itself, or is torn [with beasts], he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I [am] the LORD.
Ezekiel 4:14
- Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
Acts 15:20
- But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.
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Commentary for Deuteronomy 14:21
1. Themes:
- Purity and Holiness: Deuteronomy 14:21 emphasizes the importance of Israel's distinctiveness as a holy people set apart for God. This is reflected in dietary practices that distinguish the Israelites from other nations.
- Compassion and Generosity: The verse suggests a practice of charity, allowing the Israelites to give or sell to foreigners or strangers within their gates food that would otherwise not be consumed by them (i.e., carrion, which is considered impure).
- Dietary Laws: The verse is part of a larger section outlining dietary laws (Deuteronomy 14:3-21), which served both ritual and ethical purposes. These laws would have contributed to the physical and spiritual health of the community, as well as their social identity.
- Prohibition of Mixing: The final clause, "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk," is a specific dietary prohibition against mixing meat with dairy, which is also found in Exodus 23:19 and 34:26. This commandment is traditionally understood as a moral and ethical teaching against mixing life (symbolized by milk) with death (symbolized by meat).
2. Historical Context:
- The book of Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches by Moses to the Israelites as they are encamped in the plains of Moab, ready to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
- The laws in Deuteronomy are part of a covenant renewal ceremony, reiterating the laws given at Mount Sinai (Horeb) and preparing the new generation to live in the land of Canaan.
- The dietary laws would have set the Israelites apart from the Canaanite population, whose religious practices and dietary habits were considered idolatrous and immoral by Israelite standards.
- The historical context also reflects a nomadic and agrarian society where the practicality of such laws, including not eating meat from animals that died naturally (which could be diseased or unhealthy), would have been important for the community's well-being.
In summary, Deuteronomy 14:21 is part of a broader legal and ethical framework designed to shape the religious, social, and moral identity of the Israelite nation as they prepared to establish themselves in the land of Canaan.
*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: H398
There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָכַל
Transliteration: ʼâkal
Pronunciation: aw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. - Strong's Number: H5038
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְבֵלָה
Transliteration: nᵉbêlâh
Pronunciation: neb-ay-law'
Description: from נָבֵל; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol; (dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died, (beast) that (which) dieth of itself. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H1616
There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֵּר
Transliteration: gêr
Pronunciation: gare
Description: or (fully) geyr (gare); from גּוּר; properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner; alien, sojourner, stranger. - Strong's Number: H8179
There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁעַר
Transliteration: shaʻar
Pronunciation: shah'-ar
Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er). - Strong's Number: H4376
There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָכַר
Transliteration: mâkar
Pronunciation: maw-kar'
Description: a primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender); [idiom] at all, sell (away, -er, self). - Strong's Number: H5237
There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נׇכְרִי
Transliteration: nokrîy
Pronunciation: nok-ree'
Description: from נֶכֶר (second form); strange, in a variety of degrees and applications (foreign, non-relative, adulterous, different, wonderful); alien, foreigner, outlandish, strange(-r, woman). - Strong's Number: H6918
There are 106 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָדוֹשׁ
Transliteration: qâdôwsh
Pronunciation: kaw-doshe'
Description: or קָדֹשׁ; from קָדַשׁ; sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary; holy (One), saint. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - 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: H1310
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשַׁל
Transliteration: bâshal
Pronunciation: baw-shal'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to boil up; hence, to be done in cooking; figuratively to ripen; bake, boil, bring forth, roast, seethe, sod (be sodden). - Strong's Number: H1423
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גְּדִי
Transliteration: gᵉdîy
Pronunciation: ghed-ee'
Description: from the same as גָּדָה; a young goat (from browsing); kid. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H2461
There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלָב
Transliteration: châlâb
Pronunciation: khaw-lawb'
Description: from the same as חֶלֶב; milk (as the richness of kine); [phrase] cheese, milk, sucking.