Devarim 22:9

9 Thou shalt not sow thy kerem with different seeds; lest the fruit of thy zera which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy kerem, be defiled.

Devarim 22:9 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:9

Thou shall not sow thy vineyards with divers seeds
As wheat and barley between the rows of the vines; and this is to be understood only of divers sorts of corn, and of divers sorts of herbs, but not of trees; hence we read of a fig tree in a vineyard, ( Luke 13:6 ) , and this only respects what is sown with design, and not what is casual, as the Jews interpret it ^F5;

``if a man passes through a vineyard, and seeds fall from him, or they are carried out along with dung, or with water; or when a man is sowing, and a storm of wind carries it behind him (i.e. to a vineyard behind him), it is lawful;''

that is, it may be let grow, and the fruit of it enjoyed; the same here is said of the vineyard as of the field in (See Gill on Leviticus 19:19);

lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy
vineyard; be defiled;
that is, lest not only the increase of these divers seeds sown, but also the increase of the vines among which they are sown, become unlawful, and unfit for use, and so a loss of all be sustained: the Targum of Jonathan is,

``lest it be condemned to burning;''

or thou art obliged to burn it; for, according to the Jewish canons {f}, the mixtures of a vineyard, or the divers seeds of it, and the increase thereof, were to be burnt; and the commentators of the Misnah

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 frequently explain this phrase by "lest it be burnt".

F5 Misn. Celaim, c. 5. sect. 7.
F6 Misn. Temurah, c. 7. sect. 5.
F7 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Terumot, c. 10. sect. 6. Orla, c. 3. sect. 7. Kiddushin, c. 2. sect. 9.

Devarim 22:9 In-Context

7 But thou shalt in any wise let the mother go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy yamim.

8 When thou buildest a bais chadash, then thou shalt make a parapet for thy roof, that thou bring not dahm (blood guiltiness) upon thine bais, if any fall from thence.

9 Thou shalt not sow thy kerem with different seeds; lest the fruit of thy zera which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy kerem, be defiled.

10 Thou shalt not plow with a shor and a chamor together.

11 Thou shalt not wear a garment of different sorts, as of woolen and linen together.