Deuteronomy 22:9

KJV

Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou shalt not sow {H2232} thy vineyard {H3754} with divers seeds {H3610}: lest the fruit {H4395} of thy seed {H2233} which thou hast sown {H2232}, and the fruit {H8393} of thy vineyard {H3754}, be defiled {H6942}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"You are not to sow two kinds of seed between your rows of vines; if you do, both the two harvested crops and the yield from the vines must be forfeited.

Berean Standard Bible

Do not plant your vineyard with two types of seed; if you do, the entire harvest will be defiled—both the crop you plant and the fruit of your vineyard.

American Standard Version

Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole fruit be forfeited, the seed which thou hast sown, and the increase of the vineyard.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 22:9 prohibits the sowing of a vineyard with "divers seeds," or mixed kinds, warning that such a practice would render both the sown produce and the vineyard's fruit "defiled." This agricultural regulation is part of a broader set of laws emphasizing purity, order, and distinction within Israel, reflecting God's character and His desire for His people to maintain holiness and integrity in all aspects of life, from their agricultural practices to their spiritual walk.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 22 falls within the larger section of the Deuteronomic Code (chapters 12-26), which elaborates on the covenant stipulations given at Mount Sinai and applies them to the life of Israel in the Promised Land. Specifically, chapters 22-25 contain a diverse collection of civil, social, and ceremonial laws governing daily life. These laws often appear as casuistic (case-by-case) stipulations, addressing practical matters such as lost property, sexual offenses, marriage, and various agricultural and sartorial regulations. The prohibition against mixed seeds in a vineyard is immediately followed by other laws concerning heterogeneous mixtures, such as plowing with an ox and a donkey together ([Deuteronomy 22:10](/deuteronomy/22-10 "Deuteronomy 22:10 - Do Not Plow with Unequal Yoked Animals")) and wearing garments of mixed wool and linen ([Deuteronomy 22:11](/deuteronomy/22-11 "Deuteronomy 22:11 - Do Not Wear Mixed Fabrics")). This clustering highlights a consistent underlying principle of maintaining distinct categories and avoiding forbidden mixtures, underscoring God's desire for order and separation in His people's lives.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was an agrarian society, and vineyards were a vital part of their economy and sustenance, often symbolizing prosperity and blessing. The practices described in these laws were deeply embedded in the daily lives of the Israelites as they prepared to settle in Canaan. Surrounding Canaanite cultures often engaged in syncretistic religious practices, including fertility rites that blurred distinctions between deities, species, and sacred/profane. While not explicitly stated as a direct prohibition against pagan practices, these laws on purity and distinction served to set Israel apart from the nations around them. The concept of "defilement" or "holiness" (depending on the nuance of the Hebrew term) was critical in a society where ritual purity was essential for worship and maintaining covenant relationship with God. These regulations ensured that Israel's agricultural practices, like their social and religious life, reflected their unique identity as God's chosen people, distinct from the chaotic and often immoral practices of their neighbors.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the broader Pentateuch. Primarily, it reinforces the theme of **Purity and Holiness**, emphasizing that God's people and their land must reflect His holy character. The prohibition against mixing diverse seeds is a tangible expression of the divine call for Israel to be a "holy nation" ([Exodus/19-6](/exodus/19-6 "Exodus 19:6 - Israel, a Holy Nation")). Secondly, it underscores **Divine Order and Creation**. God established distinct categories in creation (e.g., "according to their kinds" in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account")), and these laws reflect a respect for that created order, discouraging practices that would intentionally blur or corrupt natural distinctions. Thirdly, it speaks to **Separation and Distinction**, a foundational principle for Israel's identity. These laws served as visible markers setting Israel apart from the nations, preventing assimilation into pagan practices and ideologies that often celebrated the mixing of categories. Finally, it touches on **Integrity**, promoting the unadulterated nature of produce and, by extension, the integrity of Israel's covenant relationship with God, free from spiritual compromise.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis

* **Divers seeds (Hebrew, _kil'ayim'_):** This term literally means "two kinds" or "heterogeneous mixtures." It is a plural noun derived from the root _kala'_, meaning "to restrain," "to hold back," or "to shut up." In this context, _kil'ayim_ refers to the prohibition of mixing different species or categories, particularly in agriculture. It conveys the idea of an unnatural or forbidden combination, emphasizing the divine mandate for distinctness and the preservation of natural boundaries established by God in creation. The use of this term throughout the Pentateuch (e.g., [Leviticus 19:19](/leviticus/19-19 "Leviticus 19:19 - Do Not Mix Kinds")) highlights a consistent theological principle against the blurring of divinely ordained categories.
* **Be defiled (Hebrew, _tiqdash'_):** This is a fascinating and often misunderstood term in this context. The root is _q-d-sh_ (קָדַשׁ), which typically means "to be holy," "to be set apart," or "to be consecrated." However, in certain contexts, particularly when referring to something that becomes "holy" as a result of being forbidden or dedicated to God in a way that renders it unusable for common purposes, it can carry a sense of being "forbidden" or "profaned" for the ordinary Israelite. Here, the mixed produce does not become "holy" in a positive sense, but rather "holy" in a prohibitory sense—it is consecrated to God and thus removed from common use, effectively "defiled" or rendered unusable for the Israelite. It implies that the mixture itself makes the produce unacceptable or unholy according to God's standards, making it unfit for consumption or benefit.

#### Verse Breakdown

* **"Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds":** This is a direct, negative command, prohibiting the specific agricultural practice of interplanting different types of seeds within a vineyard. A vineyard, typically reserved for grapevines, was not to be used as a general field for other crops, especially not for a mixture of different grains or vegetables. This highlights the principle of maintaining the integrity and specific purpose of the land's yield.
* **"lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown":** This clause specifies the first consequence of disobedience. The "fruit" (produce) of the "seed" (the other, non-vineyard seeds) that the farmer has improperly sown will be affected. This refers to the yield of the mixed crops themselves.
* **"and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled":** This completes the consequence, indicating that not only the mixed seeds' produce but also the primary yield of the vineyard (the grapes) would be impacted. The term "be defiled" (as discussed in Key Word Analysis) signifies that all the produce from this mixed planting would become forbidden or consecrated to God in a way that renders it unusable or unacceptable for the Israelite, effectively making it ritually impure or profaned for their consumption. The entire yield becomes unusable due to the violation of God's order.

#### Literary Devices

The verse primarily employs **Legal Statute** and **Prohibition**, characteristic of the Deuteronomic Code, to convey a direct command. Beyond the literal, it functions as **Symbolism** for a broader theological principle. The act of mixing "divers seeds" in a vineyard symbolizes spiritual impurity, compromise, and a disregard for divine order. Just as the physical mixture corrupts the harvest, so too can spiritual mixtures corrupt one's faith and relationship with God. The consequence of the fruit being "defiled" serves as **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where the physical state of the produce represents the spiritual state of the one who disobeys, indicating a loss of blessing or acceptance. The law also uses **Consequence** as a rhetorical device, clearly stating the negative outcome of disobedience, thereby reinforcing the importance of adherence to God's commandments.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 22:9, while seemingly a simple agricultural law, powerfully communicates God's deep concern for order, purity, and distinction within His creation and among His people. It reflects the divine principle that God is a God of order, not chaos, and that His design for creation involves distinct categories, each with its own integrity. For Israel, this law was a tangible reminder that their entire life, including their agricultural practices, was to be set apart and consecrated to Yahweh, free from the syncretism and blurring of boundaries characteristic of pagan cultures. The prohibition against mixing seeds extends beyond the literal, serving as a metaphor for the spiritual imperative to avoid mixing true worship with idolatry, divine truth with human philosophies, or holy living with worldly compromise. It underscores that spiritual integrity requires maintaining clear distinctions and honoring God's established boundaries.

* [Leviticus 19:19](/leviticus/19-19 "Leviticus 19:19 - Do Not Mix Different Kinds")
* [2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked with Unbelievers")
* [James 1:27](/james/1-27 "James 1:27 - Pure and Undefiled Religion")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 22:9 challenges believers today to examine areas in their lives where they might be "sowing divers seeds," perhaps unknowingly compromising spiritual purity by blending incompatible elements. This could manifest as attempting to serve both God and mammon, seeking validation from both Christ and culture, or adopting worldly philosophies that contradict biblical truth. The principle calls us to a radical commitment to Christ, ensuring that our faith is unadulterated and our lives reflect the distinct holiness of God. It encourages us to cultivate a spiritual "vineyard" (our lives, our ministries, our families) that yields pure fruit, unblemished by compromise or syncretism. Just as the ancient Israelite farmer was to respect the integrity of God's created order, so too are we called to respect the integrity of God's truth and His call to separation, allowing His Spirit to produce genuine, pure fruit in us.

#### Questions for Reflection

* **In what areas of my life might I be "sowing divers seeds" by attempting to blend incompatible spiritual and worldly principles?**
* **How does the call for purity and distinction in this agricultural law translate into my daily choices and relationships?**
* **What "fruit" am I producing, and does it reflect an unadulterated commitment to Christ, or is it "defiled" by compromise?**

### FAQ

**Does this law mean I can't plant different vegetables in my garden?**

Answer: No, the literal interpretation of Deuteronomy 22:9 specifically prohibits mixing "divers seeds" *in a vineyard*. This was understood by ancient Jewish tradition (e.g., the Mishnah, Kil'ayim 4:1-9) to refer to interplanting other crops, especially grains or vegetables, among grapevines, or sowing different species of grain together in a field. It was not a blanket prohibition against having a diverse garden with different types of plants, but rather against certain specific, forbidden mixtures that violated the integrity of the primary crop or the land's intended use. The underlying principle was about maintaining distinct categories and avoiding specific types of forbidden mixtures, not about preventing all agricultural diversity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Deuteronomy 22:9 is an agricultural law, its deeper principle of purity, distinction, and avoiding defilement finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The law, with its emphasis on separation from impurity and the maintenance of distinct categories, foreshadows the radical holiness and spiritual separation accomplished by Jesus. He is the ultimate pure "seed" ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Galatians 3:16 - The Seed of Abraham is Christ")) sown by God, whose life and sacrifice were entirely unmixed with sin or worldly compromise ([Hebrews 7:26](/hebrews/7-26 "Hebrews 7:26 - Our Holy, Blameless High Priest")). Through His atoning work, Christ purifies His people, making them a "holy nation" ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Holy Nation"))—a people set apart from the world's defilement and sin. He calls His followers not to be "unequally yoked" with unbelievers or worldly systems ([2 Corinthians 6:14](/2_corinthians/6-14 "2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do Not Be Unequally Yoked")), but to live lives of integrity and purity, bearing "fruit in keeping with repentance" ([Matthew 3:8](/matthew/3-8 "Matthew 3:8 - Bear Fruit in Keeping with Repentance")). The "defilement" of the mixed fruit under the Old Covenant points to the spiritual defilement of sin, from which Christ alone can cleanse us, enabling us to bear pure, spiritual fruit that glorifies God ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abide in Me and Bear Much Fruit")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.