Deuteronomy – Chapter 14

Old Testament29 Verses

Chapter Summary

Deuteronomy 14 opens with the words: "Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead;" Across its 29 verses, two threads run through the text: God feeding His people and holiness. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead;

2Because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God: and he chose thee to be his peculiar people of all nations that are upon the earth.

3Eat not the things that are unclean.

4These are the beasts that you shall eat, the ox, and the sheep, and the goat,

5The hart and the roe, the buffle, the chamois, the pygarg, the wild goat, the camelopardalus.

6Every beast that divideth the hoof in two parts, and cheweth the cud, you shall eat.

7But of them that chew the cud, but divide not the hoof, you shall not eat, such as the camel, the hare, and the cherogril: because they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof, they shall be unclean to you.

8The swine also, because it divideth the hoof, but cheweth not the cud, shall be unclean, their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.

9These shall you eat of all that abide in the waters: All that have fins and scales, you shall eat.

10Such as are without fins and scales, you shall not eat, because they are unclean.

11All birds that are clean you shall eat.

12The unclean eat not: to wit, the eagle, and the grype, and the osprey,

13The ringtail, and the vulture, and the kite according to their kind:

14And all of the raven's kind:

15And the ostrich, and the owl, and the larus, and the hawk according to its kind:

16The heron, and the swan, and the stork,

17And the cormorant, the porphirion, and the night crow,

18The bittern, and the charadrion, every one in their kind: the houp also and the bat.

19Every thing that creepeth, and hath little wings, shall be unclean, and shall not be eaten.

20All that is clean, you shall eat.

21But whatsoever is dead of itself, eat not thereof. Give it to the stranger, that is within thy gates, to eat, or sell it to him: because thou art the holy people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of his dam.

22Every year thou shalt set aside the tithes of all thy fruits that the earth bringeth forth,

23And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, that his name may be called upon therein, the tithe of thy corn, and thy wine, and thy oil, and the firstborn of thy herds and thy sheep: that thou mayst learn to fear the Lord thy God at all times.

24But when the way and the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, are far off, and he hath blessed thee, and thou canst not carry all these things thither,

25Thou shalt sell them all, and turn them into money, and shalt carry it in thy hand, and shalt go to the place which the Lord shall choose:

26And thou shalt buy with the same money whatsoever pleaseth thee, either of the herds or of sheep, wine also and strong drink, and all that thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, and shalt feast, thou and thy house:

27And the Levite that is within thy gates, beware thou forsake him not, because he hath no other part in thy possession.

28The third year thou shalt separate another tithe of all things that grow to thee at that time, and shalt lay it up within thy gates.

29And the Levite that hath no other part nor possession with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, that are within thy gates, shall come and shall eat and be filled: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works of thy hands that thou shalt do.

Important Verses in Deuteronomy 14

Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead;

Deuteronomy 14:1

But whatsoever is dead of itself, eat not thereof. Give it to the stranger, that is within thy gates, to eat, or sell it to him: because thou art the holy people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of his dam.

Deuteronomy 14:21

But when the way and the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, are far off, and he hath blessed thee, and thou canst not carry all these things thither,

Deuteronomy 14:24

And the Levite that hath no other part nor possession with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, that are within thy gates, shall come and shall eat and be filled: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works of thy hands that thou shalt do.

Deuteronomy 14:29

Historical Context

Deuteronomy belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the new generation of Israel about to cross the Jordan into Canaan. Chapter 14 of 34 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 29 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The passage starts with these words: "Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead;" The chapter ends with: "And the Levite that hath no other part nor possession with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow,…" In terms of historical background, Deuteronomy means 'second law': Moses' final sermons on the plains of Moab, renewing the Sinai covenant for the generation about to enter Canaan. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

Who Wrote It

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC

When It Was Written

Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, Deuteronomy 14 delivers commandments and ritual instructions given under the old covenant. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead;" The passage repeatedly touches on God feeding His people.

Catholic exegesis reads Deuteronomy 14 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Jesus cited Deuteronomy's command to love God as the greatest commandment (CIC 2083). St. Augustine and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1988).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • 'Be holy, for I am holy': God calls His people to be set apart for Him in every area of life.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.

Reflection for Today

Catholic exegesis approaches Deuteronomy Chapter 14 with reverence, seeking both the literal sense and the spiritual meaning ordered to Christ.

Catholic theology recognizes that covenant renewal and the call to love God is not an abstract idea but a reality encountered in prayer, sacraments, and charity. This chapter contributes to that vision by stressing participation in Christ's priestly office through Baptism.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 958) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deuteronomy Chapter 14 about?

Deuteronomy 14 contains 29 verses. It opens with "Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead;" and closes with "And the Levite that hath no other part nor possession with thee, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow,…". The book as a whole is covenant discourses and law.

What is a key verse in Deuteronomy 14?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Be ye children of the Lord your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness for the dead;" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Deuteronomy and when?

Presented as Moses' farewell discourses; compiled and edited by inspired scribes, likely in the 7th century BC. Traditions from Moses; book discovered in the Temple during King Josiah's reform around 622 BC.

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