Deuteronomy 14:25

25 then [in that case] {you may exchange for money}, and you shall take the money to your hand and go to the place that Yahweh your God will choose.

Deuteronomy 14:25 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:25

Thou shalt then turn it into money
The tithe, which would be lighter and easier carriage:

and bind up the money in thine hand;
put it into a bag or purse, and tie it up and carry it in the hand; which some think was ordered, that it might not be mixed with other money; but it seems only to have respect to journeying, and making it fit for that. The Jewish writers {u}, some of them, give a different sense of the word we render "bind up", and interpret it of marking the silver, or impressing a form, figure, or image on it with the hand; they mean that it must be coined money; so Maimonides F23, they may not profane the sacred tithe with money not coined, nor with money not current, nor with money which is not in a man's power; for it is said,

in thine hand;
which the man is possessed of and is his own property:

and shalt go unto the place which the Lord that God shall choose;
carrying the money along with him, for which he sold the tithe.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 Bartenora in Misn. Beracot, c. 7. sect. 1. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Maaser Sheni, c. 11. sect. 2. & in Misn. Sabbat, c. 18. sect. 1.
F23 In Misn. Maaser Sheni, c. 11. sect. 2.

Deuteronomy 14:25 In-Context

23 And you shall eat {before} Yahweh your God in the place that he will choose to make to dwell his name there the tithe of your grain, your wine and your olive oil and the firstling of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to revere Yahweh your God {always}.
24 But if {the distance is too great for you}, [so] that you are not able to transport it, because the place that Yahweh your God will choose to set his name there, it is [too] far from you, when Yahweh your God will bless you,
25 then [in that case] {you may exchange for money}, and you shall take the money to your hand and go to the place that Yahweh your God will choose.
26 You may spend the money for anything {that you desire}, for oxen or for sheep or for wine or for strong drink or for anything {that you desire}, and you shall eat [it] there {before} Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
27 And [as to] the Levite who [is] in your {towns}, you shall not neglect him, because there is not a plot of ground for him and an inheritance [along] with you.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Literally "you may give it [in] for the money/silver"
  • [b]. Or "bind"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.