Deuteronomy 23:21

21 And if thou wilt vow a vow to the Lord thy God, thou shalt not delay to pay it; for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee, and it shall be sin in thee.

Deuteronomy 23:21 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 23:21

When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God
Which must be of things in a man's power to perform, and of what are lawful to be done, and according to the mind and will of God revealed in his word, and agreeably to the manner of worship prescribed by him; as that he will offer such a sacrifice, a freewill offering to him, and the like, besides what he was bound to do, or give such and such things for the repair of the sanctuary, or for the relief of the poor; (See Gill on Numbers 30:2). This law is thought by Aben Ezra to be repeated on the mention of the hire of a whore being forbidden to be brought for a vow, ( Deuteronomy 23:18 ) ;

thou shall not slack to pay it;
or delay the payment of it, but do it immediately; since zeal and affection might abate, and there might not be hereafter an ability to perform, or death might come and prevent it; the Targum of Jonathan adds, at the three feasts, that is, of the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles; and the Jewish writers ^F8 say, that no man transgresses this precept respecting the delay of paying a vow, until the three feasts have passed:

for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee;
exact the payment of it, and expect it, insist upon the performance of it, and punish for neglect:

and it would be sin in thee;
guilt of sin would be contracted, and punishment inflicted; Aben Ezra interprets it of the latter.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Roshhashanah, c. 1. sect. 1. & in Ediot, c. 7. sect. 4.

Deuteronomy 23:21 In-Context

19 Thou shalt not lend to thy brother on usury of silver, or usury of meat, or usury of any thing which thou mayest lend out.

20 Thou mayest lend on usury to a stranger, but to thy brother thou shalt not lend on usury; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all thy works upon the land, into which thou art entering to inherit it.

21 And if thou wilt vow a vow to the Lord thy God, thou shalt not delay to pay it; for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee, and it shall be sin in thee.

22 But if thou shouldest be unwilling to vow, it is not sin in thee.

23 Thou shalt observe the words that proceed from between thy lips; and as thou hast vowed a gift to the Lord God, shalt thou do that which thou hast spoken with thy mouth.