World English Bible
- You are the children of the LORD your God. You shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
- For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
- You shall not eat any abominable thing.
- These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
- the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the chamois.
- Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.
- Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof split: the camel, the hare, and the rabbit. Because they chew the cud but don’t part the hoof, they are unclean to you.
- The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shall not touch their carcasses.
- These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat whatever has fins and scales.
- You shall not eat whatever doesn’t have fins and scales. It is unclean to you.
- Of all clean birds you may eat.
- But these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,
- the red kite, the falcon, the kite of any kind,
- every raven of any kind,
- the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the hawk of any kind,
- the little owl, the great owl, the horned owl,
- the pelican, the vulture, the cormorant,
- the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
- All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten.
- Of all clean birds you may eat.
- You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself. You may give it to the foreigner living among you who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner; for you are a holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
- You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes out of the field year by year.
- You shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he chooses to cause his name to dwell, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
- If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it because the place which the LORD your God shall choose to set his name there is too far from you, when the LORD your God blesses you,
- then you shall turn it into money, bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which the LORD your God shall choose.
- You shall trade the money for whatever your soul desires: for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you. You shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
- You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.
- At the end of every three years you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates.
- The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Deuteronomy 14 begins with a strong affirmation of Israel’s unique identity before God:
“You are the children of the LORD your God… For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 14:1-2, New International Version)
Consider carefully what it means to be God’s “holy” people. The Hebrew term for holy, qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ), carries the idea of separation or distinctness—set apart for a special purpose. While outwardly, Israel’s holiness was signified through specific lifestyle and dietary practices, inwardly it spoke of an intimate belonging to God.
This calling is echoed in 1 Peter 2:9 (New International Version):
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”
We too, as believers under the New Covenant through Christ, are called to live as holy people—set apart spiritually, morally, and relationally, to God alone.
The bulk of Deuteronomy 14 deals with dietary laws, outlining clean and unclean animals. Western readers often find this section puzzling or relegated to an outdated cultural setting without clear meaning for today. However, these dietary rules served several profound purposes:
Physical Well-being: Modern studies have demonstrated that many animals declared “unclean” carried risk of disease in ancient times. God, as the wise and compassionate provider, laid these laws down partly to protect His people’s health—in obedience, they experienced practical, historical benefits.
Spiritual Discipline and Daily Devotion: For ancient Israelites, each meal was an opportunity to practice obedience and spiritual mindfulness. Through each dietary choice, they reaffirmed their commitment to God’s covenant, reminding themselves daily of their holy identity.
Distinctive Witness Among Nations: Their dietary laws set Israel apart culturally and socially, marking them out among neighboring peoples. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, communal eating defined relationships and allegiances. By avoiding certain foods, Israel expressed visible loyalty to Yahweh and separation from idolatrous influences.
The famous theologian John Calvin viewed these food laws as teaching tools—representative symbols pointing Israel to moral discernment, purity of heart, and avoidance of idolatrous influence.
As New Testament believers, we recognize that Christ himself declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19, New International Version), and the Apostle Paul confirms freedom from dietary restrictions for believers (Colossians 2:16, New International Version). Yet the underlying principle remains vital—we too practice discernment, obedience, and holiness through our daily lifestyle choices. Consider honestly: are there daily practices through which God’s call to holiness becomes evident in your life?
At the chapter’s opening, we see an unusual prohibition against cutting oneself or shaving the forehead because of mourning (Deut. 14:1). These were common pagan mourning customs practiced by Canaanite neighbors. God’s people were commanded to avoid such customs as he wanted to establish a sharp distinction between worship of Yahweh and pagan rituals. Archaeological evidence confirms self-cutting and marking as mourning practices among ancient cultures in the Near East. God’s intention was clear: Israel was not to grieve without hope, nor conform blindly to worldly habits. This has resonance for us today; do our practices, even in sorrow or grief, reflect hope and faith in our redeeming God, or do we mimic blindly the despairing practices of the culture around us?
The concluding verses (Deut. 14:22-29) directly instruct Israel regarding tithes. This portion reveals how the ancient Israelites celebrated God’s provision in communal feasts before Him. It was not merely duty or obligation; it was heartfelt worship and joyful gratitude.
God reminded Israel to care provisionally for the Levites, resident foreigners, orphans, and widows. Biblical theology repeatedly emphasizes that true worship is expressed through mercy, generosity, and justice—practical expressions of holy people corresponding to the Lord’s compassionate nature (cf. James 1:27; Micah 6:8). Do we joyfully and genuinely reflect God’s compassionate heart through generous giving?
Reflect today on these truths through singing the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be (Consecrated, Lord, to Thee)” by Frances R. Havergal, which beautifully expresses the surrender and dedication of our entire being to God.
Almighty Father, we thank You that You have chosen us, set us apart, and bought us at the price of Your Son’s precious blood. Help us live each day mindful of Your holiness and kindness. Teach us discernment, compassion, and joyful obedience, so that our lives reflect clearly Your character and covenant love to a watching world. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Narrated version of this devotional on Deuteronomy Chapter 14