Deuteronomy – Chapter 26

Old Testament19 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 26 of Deuteronomy begins: "And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and dwellest in it:" Across its 19 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and justice and care for the poor. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and dwellest in it:

2Thou shalt take the first of all thy fruits, and put them in a basket, and shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, that his name may be invocated there:

3And thou shalt go to the priest that shall be in those days, and say to him: I profess this day before the Lord thy God, that I am come into the land, for which he swore to our fathers, that he would give it us.

4And the priest taking the basket at thy hand, shall set it before the altar of the Lord thy God:

5And thou shalt speak thus in the sight of the Lord thy God: The Syrian pursued my father, who went down into Egypt, and sojourned there in a very small number, and grew into a nation great and strong and of an infinite multitude.

6And the Egyptians afflicted us, and persecuted us, laying on us most grievous burdens:

7And we cried to the Lord God of our fathers: who heard us, and looked down upon our affliction, and labour, and distress:

8And brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand, and a stretched out arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders:

9And brought us into this place, and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.

10And therefore now I offer the firstfruits of the land which the Lord hath given me. And thou shalt leave them in the sight of the Lord thy God, adoring the Lord thy God.

11And thou shalt feast in all the good things which the Lord thy God hath given thee, and thy house, thou and the Levite, and the stranger that is with thee.

12When thou hast made an end of tithing all thy fruits, in the third year of tithes thou shalt give it to the Levite, and to the stranger, and to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled:

13And thou shalt speak thus in the sight of the Lord thy God: I have taken that which was sanctified out of my house, and I have given it to the Levite, and to the stranger, and to the fatherless, and to the widow, as thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments nor forgotten thy precepts.

14I have not eaten of them in my mourning, nor separated them for any uncleanness, nor spent any thing of them in funerals. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done all things as thou hast commanded me.

15Look from thy sanctuary, and thy high habitation of heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou didst swear to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

16This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these commandments and judgments: and to keep and fulfil them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.

17Thou hast chosen the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways and keep his ceremonies, and precepts, and judgments, and obey his command.

18And the Lord hath chosen thee this day, to be his peculiar people, as he hath spoken to thee, and to keep all his commandments:

19And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst be a holy people of the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.

Important Verses in Deuteronomy 26

And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and dwellest in it:

Deuteronomy 26:1

And the priest taking the basket at thy hand, shall set it before the altar of the Lord thy God:

Deuteronomy 26:4

This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these commandments and judgments: and to keep and fulfil them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.

Deuteronomy 26:16

And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst be a holy people of the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.

Deuteronomy 26:19

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Deuteronomy was written with the new generation of Israel about to cross the Jordan into Canaan in view. Chapter 26 of 34 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 19 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and…" It concludes: "And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst…" 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 26 delivers commandments and ritual instructions given under the old covenant. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and dwellest in it:" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 461). Here, Jesus cited Deuteronomy's command to love God as the greatest commandment (CIC 2083). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Deuteronomy 26 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • Suffering, united to Christ, becomes a path of purification and deeper trust in God.

Reflection for Today

As Catholics read Deuteronomy Chapter 26, we do so within the living Tradition that has guarded this text for two millennia.

The saints did not treat Scripture as antiquarian literature. St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, and countless others used passages such as this to fuel daily conversion. the dignity of the human person remains a practical lesson for modern disciples.

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of the dignity of the human person bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Deuteronomy Chapter 26 about?

Deuteronomy 26 contains 19 verses. It opens with "And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and…" and closes with "And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst…". The book as a whole is covenant discourses and law.

What is a key verse in Deuteronomy 26?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And when thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God will give thee to possess, and hast conquered it, and dwellest in it:" 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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