Deuteronomy 23:21

21 When thou hast vowed a vowe vnto the Lorde thy God, se thou be not slacke to paye it. For he will surely requyre it of the, and it shalbe synne vnto the

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.

---

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 be no vsurer vnto thy brother, nether in mony nor in fode, nor in any maner thinge that is lent vppon vserye

20 Vnto a strauger thou maist lende vppon vserye, but not vnto thy brother, that the Lorde thy God maye blesse the in all that thou settest thyne hande to in the londe whother thou goest to conquere it.

21 When thou hast vowed a vowe vnto the Lorde thy God, se thou be not slacke to paye it. For he will surely requyre it of the, and it shalbe synne vnto the

22 Yf thou shalt leue vowinge, it shalbe no synne vnto the:

23 but that which is once gone out off thy lippes, thou must kepe and doo, accordynge as thou hast vowed vnto the Lorde thy god a frewilloffrynge whiche thou hast spoken with thy mouth.