Deuteronomy 26:11

And thou shalt rejoice in every good [thing] which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that [is] among you.

And thou shalt rejoice {H8055} in every good {H2896} thing which the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430} hath given {H5414} unto thee, and unto thine house {H1004}, thou, and the Levite {H3881}, and the stranger {H1616} that is among {H7130} you.

and take joy in all the good that ADONAI your God has given you, your household, the Levi and the foreigner living with you.

So you shall rejoice—you, the Levite, and the foreigner dwelling among you—in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.

and thou shalt rejoice in all the good which Jehovah thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, thou, and the Levite, and the sojourner that is in the midst of thee.

Commentary

Deuteronomy 26:11 is a powerful verse within the context of Israel's covenant relationship with God, emphasizing gratitude, joy, and communal sharing of blessings. It calls the people to celebrate the abundance God has provided.

Context

This verse appears immediately after the instructions for bringing the firstfruits of the harvest to the LORD and presenting the triennial tithe, which was designated for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 26:12). Having fulfilled these acts of worship and charity, the people are commanded to enter into joyful celebration, acknowledging God as the source of their prosperity. It's set as Israel prepares to enter the promised land, establishing principles for life in their new home.

Key Themes

  • Rejoicing and Gratitude: The central command is to "rejoice." This is not merely a passive feeling but an active expression of joy and gratitude for God's generosity.
  • Divine Provision: The verse explicitly states that the rejoicing is for "every good [thing] which the LORD thy God hath given." It highlights the recognition that all blessings, material and otherwise, originate from God (See James 1:17 for God being the giver of every good gift).
  • Inclusive Community: The command to rejoice includes "thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you." This underscores the importance of sharing God's blessings and joy with all members of the community, especially those who might be vulnerable or without their own inheritance, like the Levites and foreigners residing in Israel (Compare with Leviticus 19:34 regarding the treatment of strangers).
  • Celebration of Blessings: Worship and obedience are meant to lead to joy and celebration in the goodness of God, not merely solemn duty.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "rejoice" is samach (שָׂמַח). It signifies a deep sense of gladness, joy, and often involves celebration, feasting, and communal happiness. It's a word used frequently in the Psalms and other books to describe the joy found in God's presence and blessings.

Practical Application and Reflection

Deuteronomy 26:11 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today. It calls us to cultivate a heart of gratitude for all the good things God has given us, recognizing His hand in our lives. Furthermore, it challenges us to ensure our joy and blessings are shared, extending hospitality and care to others, particularly the less fortunate or those on the fringes of society. True rejoicing in God's gifts involves both personal gratitude and communal generosity.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 16:11

    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.

  • Deuteronomy 12:7

    And 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.

  • Philippians 4:4

    Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.

  • Deuteronomy 28:47

    Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all [things];

  • Psalms 100:1

    ¶ A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

  • Psalms 100:2

    Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

  • Isaiah 65:14

    Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
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