Deuteronomy 16:16-22

16 "1Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and 2they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.
17 "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
18 "You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
19 "3You shall not distort justice; 4you shall not be partial *, and 5you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
20 "Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that 6you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
21 "7You shall not plant for yourself an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of the LORD your God, which you shall make for yourself.
22 "8You shall not set up for yourself a sacred pillar which the LORD your God hates.

Deuteronomy 16:16-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 16

This chapter treats of the three grand yearly festivals, of the feast of passover, when, where, and what was to be sacrificed, how to be dressed, and in what manner to be eaten, De 16:1-8, of the feast of pentecost, when to begin it, where and how it was to be observed, De 16:9-12, and of the feast of tabernacles, when, where, and how long it was to be kept, De 16:13-15, which three times in the year all the males were to appear before the Lord, and not empty, De 16:16,17, an order is given for the appointment of judges in the land, to execute judgment, De 16:18-20, and the chapter is closed with a caution against planting groves, and setting up images, De 16:21,22.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Exodus 23:14-17; Exodus 34:23, 24
  • 2. Exodus 34:20
  • 3. Exodus 23:2; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Deuteronomy 10:17
  • 4. Proverbs 24:23
  • 5. Exodus 23:8; Proverbs 17:23; Ecclesiastes 7:7
  • 6. Deuteronomy 4:1
  • 7. Deuteronomy 7:5; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; 2 Chronicles 33:3
  • 8. Leviticus 26:1

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Lit "according to the gift of his hand"
  • [b]. Lit "gates"
  • [c]. Lit "regard persons"
  • [d]. I.e. wooden symbol of a female deity
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.