King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 16:10 Mean?

Deuteronomy 16:10 in the King James Version says “And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which ...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: a tribute: or, sufficiency”

Deuteronomy 16:10 · KJV

Context

8

Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein. solemn: Heb. restraint

9

Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.

10

And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: a tribute: or, sufficiency

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.

12

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.

Read Deuteronomy 16 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein. The weeklong unleavened bread observance reinforced Passover's message through extended participation. Six days of continued unleavened eating impressed the lesson of separation from Egypt and commitment to holiness.

The seventh day solemn assembly created sacred bookends for the week - beginning with Passover evening and concluding with sabbath-like rest. This structure emphasized completeness and provided dedicated time for corporate worship without work distractions.

The prohibition thou shalt do no work sanctified the day for spiritual focus. Rest from labor allowed Israel to concentrate on God and reflection on redemption without secular concerns competing for attention. Sacred time requires cessation from ordinary pursuits.

This pattern of work followed by sacred rest mirrors the creation week and weekly Sabbath, reinforcing the rhythm of labor and worship that structures covenant life.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Feast of Unleavened Bread concluded with special assembly on the seventh day, making Passover week one of Israel's major festival periods requiring pilgrimage to the central sanctuary.

First and seventh days of the feast were especially holy, with the intermediate days permitting some work while maintaining unleavened bread requirement.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the weeklong observance teach about impressing spiritual lessons through repetition?
  2. How does sacred rest enable spiritual focus that work-filled days prevent?
  3. Why does proper worship require setting aside time from ordinary pursuits?
  4. How does the pattern of work and sacred rest reflect creation and Sabbath principles?
  5. What does the bookend structure (beginning with Passover, ending with assembly) teach about worship rhythm?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וְעָשִׂ֜יתָ1 of 14

“And thou shalt keep”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

חַ֤ג2 of 14

“the feast”

H2282

a festival, or a victim therefor

שָֽׁבֻעוֹת֙3 of 14

“of weeks”

H7620

literally, sevened, i.e., a week (specifically, of years)

יְהוָ֥ה4 of 14

“unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃5 of 14

“thy God”

H430

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

מִסַּ֛ת6 of 14

“with a tribute”

H4530

abundance, i.e., (adverbially) liberally

נִדְבַ֥ת7 of 14

“of a freewill offering”

H5071

properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift

יָֽדְךָ֖8 of 14

“of thine hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

אֲשֶׁ֣ר9 of 14
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

תִּתֵּ֑ן10 of 14

“which thou shalt give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר11 of 14
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֖12 of 14

“hath blessed”

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

יְהוָ֥ה13 of 14

“unto the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃14 of 14

“thy God”

H430

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

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 16:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 16:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Corinthians 16:22 Corinthians 9:5-112 Corinthians 8:10Malachi 3:10-11Haggai 2:15-19Numbers 31:37

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