Deuteronomy 26:4-14

4 "The priest will take the basket from you and place it before the altar of the Lord your God.
5 Then, in the Lord's presence you will recite these words: "My ancestor was a wandering Aramean, who took his family to Egypt to live. They were few in number when they went there, but they became a large and powerful nation.
6 The Egyptians treated us harshly and forced us to work as slaves.
7 Then we cried out for help to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard us and saw our suffering, hardship, and misery.
8 By his great power and strength he rescued us from Egypt. He worked miracles and wonders, and caused terrifying things to happen.
9 He brought us here and gave us this rich and fertile land.
10 So now I bring to the Lord the first part of the harvest that he has given me.' "Then set the basket down in the Lord's presence and worship there.
11 Be grateful for the good things that the Lord your God has given you and your family; and let the Levites and the foreigners who live among you join in the celebration.
12 "Every third year give the tithe - a tenth of your crops - to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, so that in every community they will have all they need to eat. When you have done this, 1
13 say to the Lord, "None of the sacred tithe is left in my house; I have given it to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, as you commanded me to do. I have not disobeyed or forgotten any of your commands concerning the tithe.
14 I have not eaten any of it when I was mourning; I have not taken any of it out of my house when I was ritually unclean; and I have not given any of it as an offering for the dead. I have obeyed you, O Lord; I have done everything you commanded concerning the tithe.

Deuteronomy 26:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 26

This chapter treats of the basket of firstfruits to be brought and presented to the Lord, and the confession to be made along with it, De 26:1-11; and of the declaration to be made on the third year, the year of tithing, and the prayer annexed to it, De 26:12-15; and of the covenant made in a solemn manner between God and the people of Israel, De 26:16-19.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 26.12Deuteronomy 14.28, 29.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. for the dead; [or] to the dead.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.