Deuteronomy 26:12
New International Version
When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

New Living Translation
“Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.

English Standard Version
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled,

Berean Standard Bible
When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates.

King James Bible
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

New King James Version
“When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year—the year of tithing—and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled,

New American Standard Bible
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

NASB 1995
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

NASB 1977
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow, that they may eat in your towns, and be satisfied.

Legacy Standard Bible
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the sojourner, to the orphan, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates and be satisfied.

Amplified Bible
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce the third year, [which is] the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat within the gates of your cities and be satisfied.

Christian Standard Bible
“When you have finished paying all the tenth of your produce in the third year, the year of the tenth, you are to give it to the Levites, resident aliens, fatherless children, and widows, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you have finished paying all the tenth of your produce in the third year, the year of the tenth, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

American Standard Version
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then thou shalt give it unto the Levite, to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled.

Contemporary English Version
Every year you are to give ten percent of your harvest to the LORD. But every third year, this ten percent must be given to the poor who live in your town, including Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows. That way, they will have enough to eat.

English Revised Version
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then thou shalt give it unto the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Every third year is the year when you will store a tenth of that year's crops [in your houses]. During that year distribute what you have stored to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows in your cities, and they may eat all they want.

Good News Translation
"Every third year give the tithe--a tenth of your crops--to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows, so that in every community they will have all they need to eat. When you have done this,

International Standard Version
"When you have finished your harvest, reserve the tithe in the third year (the year of the tithe), and give the entire tithe to the descendants of Levi, to the foreigners, to the orphans, and to the widows, so they may eat and be satisfied in your cities.

Majority Standard Bible
When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates.

NET Bible
When you finish tithing all your income in the third year (the year of tithing), you must give it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows so that they may eat to their satisfaction in your villages.

New Heart English Bible
When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled.

Webster's Bible Translation
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thy increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled:

World English Bible
When you have finished tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates and be filled.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When you complete to tithe all the tithe of your increase in the third year, the year of the tithe, then you have given to the Levite, to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, and they have eaten within your gates and been satisfied,

Young's Literal Translation
'When thou dost complete to tithe all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, the year of the tithe, then thou hast given to the Levite, to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, and they have eaten within thy gates, and been satisfied,

Smith's Literal Translation
When thou shalt finish to tithe all the tenth part of thy produce, in the third year the year of the tenth part, and thou gavest it to the Levite and to the stranger and to the orphan and to the widow, and they ate in thy gates and were satisfied.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
When 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:

Catholic Public Domain Version
When you will have completed the tithing of all your crops, in the third year of tithes, you shall give it to the Levite, and to the new arrival, and to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be satisfied.

New American Bible
When you have finished setting aside all the tithes of your produce in the third year, the year of the tithes, and have given them to the Levite, the resident alien, the orphan and the widow, that they may eat and be satisfied in your own communities,

New Revised Standard Version
When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year (which is the year of the tithe), giving it to the Levites, the aliens, the orphans, and the widows, so that they may eat their fill within your towns,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When you have finished tithing all the tithes of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when you have finished tithing all the tithes of your crops in the third year, which is the year of tithes, give to the Levite and to the foreign settler and to the orphan and the widow and they shall eat in your towns and they will be satisfied;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be satisfied,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And when thou shalt have completed all the tithings of thy fruits in the third year, thou shalt give the second tenth to the Levite, and stranger, and fatherless, and widow; and they shall eat it in thy cities, and be merry.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Offering Firstfruits and Tithes
11So you shall rejoice—you, the Levite, and the foreigner dwelling among you—in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. 12When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates. 13Then you shall declare in the presence of the LORD your God, “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all the commandments You have given me. I have not transgressed or forgotten Your commandments.…

Cross References
Leviticus 27:30
Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.

Numbers 18:21-24
Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. / No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. / The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites. ...

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

Nehemiah 10:37-39
Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor. / A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God. / For the Israelites and the Levites are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.”

2 Chronicles 31:5-6
As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything. / And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

Amos 4:4
“Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29
At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and lay it up within your gates. / Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. / Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs. / Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. ...

Exodus 22:21-24
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. / You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. / If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. ...

Psalm 41:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.

Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 11:42
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Luke 14:13-14
But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”


Treasury of Scripture

When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled;

the tithes

Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

Numbers 18:24
But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

the third

Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year…

hast given it

Deuteronomy 12:17-19
Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand: …

Deuteronomy 16:14
And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

Proverbs 14:21
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

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Deuteronomy 26
1. The confession of him who offers the basket of firstfruits
12. The prayer of him who gives his third year's tithes
16. The covenant between God and his people














When you have finished tithing
The Hebrew root for "tithing" is "ma'aser," which means a tenth part. Tithing was an essential practice in ancient Israel, reflecting obedience and gratitude to God. It was a tangible acknowledgment that all provisions come from Him. The act of tithing was not merely a financial transaction but a spiritual discipline that cultivated a heart of generosity and trust in God's provision.

all the tenth of your produce
The phrase emphasizes the completeness of the tithe, indicating that nothing should be withheld. The "produce" refers to the agricultural yield, which was the primary source of sustenance and economy in ancient Israel. This command underscores the principle of giving from one's firstfruits, a practice that acknowledges God's sovereignty over the land and its bounty.

in the third year, the year of the tithe
The "third year" was designated as a special year for tithing, known as the "year of the tithe." This was a time when the tithe was specifically directed towards supporting the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows. This practice highlights the cyclical nature of God's provision and the importance of community support and care for the vulnerable.

you are to give it to the Levite
The Levites were the priestly tribe, set apart for religious duties and service in the temple. They did not have an inheritance of land like the other tribes, so they relied on the tithes for their sustenance. This provision ensured that those who served God and the community were cared for, reflecting the communal responsibility to support spiritual leadership.

the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow
These groups represent the marginalized and vulnerable in society. God's command to provide for them through the tithe demonstrates His heart for justice and compassion. It is a call for the community to reflect God's character by ensuring that no one is left in need, embodying the love and care that God has for all His people.

so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied
The ultimate goal of this command is satisfaction and provision for all, ensuring that every member of the community has enough to eat. This reflects the biblical principle of shalom, where peace and wholeness are achieved through justice and righteousness. It is a reminder that God's provision is abundant and meant to be shared, fostering a community where everyone can thrive.

Deuteronomy 26:12-15. DECLARATION OF THE TITHE.

(12) When thou hast made an end.--The time fixed for making the confession prescribed in Deuteronomy 26:13-15, according to Jewish usage, was the Passover-eve of the fourth year, i.e., the first feast after the completion of the year of tithing. It would seem that something was still to be gathered from the trees after the Feast of Tabernacles, and thus there would still be some produce untithed at that feast in any given year. But the tithe of the third year must be separated to the very last item before the Passover of the fourth.

The third year, which is the year of tithing.--See Deuteronomy 14:28-29. In the third and sixth years, the second tithe, which in other years was eaten by the owners (in kind or value) at Jerusalem, was given to the poor, and was called the poor's tithe. In Talmudical language, the Ma'aser ani took the place of Ma'aser sheni in these years.

Thus the words "and hast given it unto the Levite," are applied to the first tithe, which was never omitted, and which is prescribed by Numbers 18. The words that follow, "the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow," are interpreted of the poor's tithe. The prescribed confession is not to be made until all the tithe has been given, both first and second, i.e., the annual tithe to the Levites, and the second, which was in these years devoted to the poor.

That they may eat within thy gates, and be filled.--The quantity with which they were to be satisfied was duly prescribed by the Jewish scribes!

(13) Thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away.--Literally, I have consumed, or burned out. It is the same strong word used so frequently in this book for "putting away" evil, and from which the name Taberah, "burning," is derived. It is taken by Jewish commentators to include everything that could possibly be required as holy under any law, whether tithe, or firstfruit of trees not yet made common, or anything that from any cause had not been brought to Jerusalem during the three previous years.

I . . . have given . . . unto the Levite (the first tithe), and unto the stranger. . . . (the poor's tithe).--Rashi. . . .

Verses 12-15. - On the occasion of presenting the tithes, a special service was also to be made. The tithe here referred to is the vegetable or predial tithe, which, at the end of each third year, as here prescribed, was to be converted into a gift to the poor and needy. This, properly the second tithe (LXX., τὸ δεύτερον ἐπιδέκατον), but usually called the third tithe (Tobit 1:7, 8; Josephus, 'Antiq.,' 4:8, 22), is quite distinct from the Levitical tithe prescribed in Leviticus 27:30-33 and Numbers 18:21-32; and it is a mistake to suppose that the law here was designed to contravene or supersede that in the earlier books (see Kitto, 'Bibl. Cycl.,' 3:1010). As this tithe completed the triennial series of tithes which the Israelites had to offer, it was fitting that in presenting it a solemn declaration should be made by the offerer to the effect that he had honorably and conscientiously discharged all the obligations in this respect which the Law laid upon him. Verse 12. - The third year, which is the year of tithing. As each week ended with a Sabbath, so a sabbatical year ended each cycle or week of years; and as on it no tithes were levied, "the year of tithing" here specified would be the third and the sixth years in each septennial period.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you have finished laying aside
תְכַלֶּ֞ה (ṯə·ḵal·leh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

a tenth
מַעְשַׂ֧ר (ma‘·śar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4643: Tenth part, tithe

of all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

of your produce
תְּבוּאָתְךָ֛ (tə·ḇū·’ā·ṯə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8393: Product, revenue

in the third
הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖ת (haš·šə·lî·šiṯ)
Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular
Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)

year,
בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה (baš·šā·nāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

the year
שְׁנַ֣ת (šə·naṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8141: A year

of the tithe,
הַֽמַּעֲשֵׂ֑ר (ham·ma·‘ă·śêr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4643: Tenth part, tithe

you are to give
וְנָתַתָּ֣ה (wə·nā·ṯat·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

it to the Levite,
לַלֵּוִ֗י (lal·lê·wî)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

the foreigner,
לַגֵּר֙ (lag·gêr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1616: A guest, a foreigner

the fatherless,
לַיָּת֣וֹם (lay·yā·ṯō·wm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3490: A bereaved person

and the widow,
וְלָֽאַלְמָנָ֔ה (wə·lā·’al·mā·nāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place

that they may eat
וְאָכְל֥וּ (wə·’ā·ḵə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 398: To eat

and be filled
וְשָׂבֵֽעוּ׃ (wə·śā·ḇê·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

within your gates.
בִשְׁעָרֶ֖יךָ (ḇiš·‘ā·re·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 26:12 When you have made an end (Deut. De Du)
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