King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 26:14 Mean?

Deuteronomy 26:14 in the King James Version says “I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought th...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.”

Deuteronomy 26:14 · KJV

Context

12

When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

13

Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:

14

I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

15

Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

16

This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

Read Deuteronomy 26 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
I have not eaten thereof in my mourning—the tithe wasn't consumed during ritual uncleanness associated with mourning the dead (contact with corpses caused temporary uncleanness, Numbers 19:11-22). Neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use—no portion was diverted to profane purposes or handled in ceremonially unclean states. Nor given ought thereof for the dead—prohibiting use of the tithe in pagan funeral customs or offerings to the deceased, practices common in surrounding cultures but forbidden to Israel.

These three negative declarations protected the tithe's sacred character. The prohibition on eating while mourning and giving for the dead distinguished Israelite practices from pagan death cults that venerated ancestors and made offerings to spirits. But I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me—the positive conclusion affirmed complete obedience to all tithing regulations. Holiness required both avoiding prohibited actions and performing required ones.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Given circa 1406 BC before Israel encountered Canaanite religious practices that heavily emphasized death cults and ancestor veneration. Archaeological evidence from Canaan shows elaborate tomb offerings and apparent belief in feeding the dead. Israel's law explicitly rejected these practices, requiring the living to care for the living (Levites, poor) rather than making offerings to the dead. The prohibition safeguarded monotheistic worship and distinguished Israel from necromantic paganism.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does God prohibit using sacred resources for death-related practices? What theological truth does this protect?
  2. How do modern 'offerings to the dead' (elaborate funerals while neglecting the living poor) violate this principle?
  3. What's the relationship between ceremonial cleanness in the Old Testament and moral purity for Christians?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
לֹֽא1 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אָכַ֨לְתִּי2 of 20

“I have not eaten”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

בְאֹנִ֜י3 of 20

“thereof in my mourning”

H205

strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol

מִמֶּ֗נּוּ4 of 20
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

וְלֹֽא5 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

בִעַ֤רְתִּי6 of 20

“neither have I taken away”

H1197

to be(-come) brutish

מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙7 of 20
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

בְּטָמֵ֔א8 of 20

“ought thereof for any unclean”

H2931

foul in a religious sense

וְלֹֽא9 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

נָתַ֥תִּי10 of 20

“use nor given”

H5414

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

מִמֶּ֖נּוּ11 of 20
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

לְמֵ֑ת12 of 20

“ought thereof for the dead”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי13 of 20

“but I have hearkened”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

בְּקוֹל֙14 of 20

“to the voice”

H6963

a voice or sound

יְהוָ֣ה15 of 20

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהָ֔י16 of 20

“my 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

עָשִׂ֕יתִי17 of 20

“and have done”

H6213

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

כְּכֹ֖ל18 of 20
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר19 of 20
H834

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

צִוִּיתָֽנִי׃20 of 20

“according to all that thou hast commanded”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

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 26:14 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 26:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Leviticus 7:20Hosea 9:4Leviticus 21:11Leviticus 21:1Psalms 106:28Ezekiel 24:17

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