Deuteronomy 24:21

21 If thou gatherest grapes of thy vinery, thou shalt not gather [the] raisins that leave, but those shall fall into the uses of the comeling, of the fatherless, either motherless [child], and of the widow. (When thou gatherest grapes from thy vineyard, thou shalt not gather the raisins that be left, but they shall be left for the newcomer, the fatherless or the motherless child, and the widow.)

Deuteronomy 24:21 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 24:21

When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard
Which was done much about the same time that the olives were gathered, and both after wheat harvest, about the latter end of June, or beginning of July; for they were more forward in those hot countries:

thou shall not glean [it] afterwards;
go over the vines a second time, to pick off every berry or bunch that escaped them at first gathering:

it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow;
as the forgotten sheaf, and the olive berries left; these are all supposed to be poor persons, otherwise no doubt there were strangers, and fatherless persons, and widows, in good circumstances; who, as they needed not, so neither would give themselves the trouble, but think it beneath them to go into fields, oliveyards, and vineyards, to gather what was left by the owners. These laws were made in favour of the poor, that mercy and kindness might be showed to them, and that they might have a taste of all the fruits of the earth.

Deuteronomy 24:21 In-Context

19 When thou reapest corn in thy field, and forgettest, and leavest a reap, thou shalt not turn again to take it, but thou shalt suffer that a comeling, and a fatherless, either motherless child, and a widow take it away, that thy Lord God bless thee in all the work of thine hands. (When thou reapest corn in thy field, and forgettest, and leavest a sheaf, thou shalt not return to get it, but thou shalt allow the newcomer, the fatherless or the motherless child, and the widow, to take it, so that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands.)

20 If thou gatherest the fruits of olives, whatever thing leaveth in the trees, thou shalt not turn again to gather it, but thou shalt leave it to a comeling, a fatherless, either motherless [child], and to a widow. (When thou gatherest the fruits of olives, whatever thing be left in the trees, thou shalt not return to gather it, but thou shalt leave it for the newcomer, the fatherless or the motherless child, and the widow.)

21 If thou gatherest grapes of thy vinery, thou shalt not gather [the] raisins that leave, but those shall fall into the uses of the comeling, of the fatherless, either motherless [child], and of the widow. (When thou gatherest grapes from thy vineyard, thou shalt not gather the raisins that be left, but they shall be left for the newcomer, the fatherless or the motherless child, and the widow.)

22 Have thou mind, that also thou servedest in Egypt (Remember, that thou were slaves in Egypt), and therefore I command to thee, that thou do this thing.