Leviticus 19:24

24 In the fourth year all the fruit shall be dedicated as an offering to show your gratitude to me, the Lord.

Leviticus 19:24 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 19:24

But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy,
&c.] Separated and devoted to the service of God, to be given to the priest, or to be bought again of him; wherefore the Targum of Jonathan adds, at the end of the verse, "redeemed from the priest", a redemption price being given to the priest; and, as Jarchi observes, as the tithe was not eaten without the walls of Jerusalem, but by redemption, even so likewise this: to praise the Lord [withal];
for his abundant goodness in blessing and making the trees fruitful, and bringing their fruit unto perfection; and by devoting the first fruits to God, his name was praised and glorified, as well as by eating them with joy and gladness before the Lord in Jerusalem.

Leviticus 19:24 In-Context

22 and with it the priest shall perform the ritual of purification to remove the man's sin, and God will forgive him.
23 "When you come into the land of Canaan and plant any kind of fruit tree, consider the fruit ritually unclean for the first three years. During that time you must not eat it.
24 In the fourth year all the fruit shall be dedicated as an offering to show your gratitude to me, the Lord.
25 But in the fifth year you may eat the fruit. If you do all this, your trees will bear more fruit. I am the Lord your God.
26 "Do not eat any meat with blood still in it. Do not practice any kind of magic.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. to show your gratitude to me; [or] in praise of me.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.