Deuteronomy 24:20

Verse

When you beat the olives from your trees, you must not go over the branches again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow.

American Standard Version (1901)

When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Bible in Basic English

When you are shaking the fruit from your olive-trees, do not go over the branches a second time: let some be for the man from a strange land, the child without a father, and the widow.

Douay-Rheims 1899

If thou have gathered the fruit of thy olive trees, thou shalt not return to gather whatsoever remaineth on the trees: but shalt leave it for the stranger, for the fatherless, and the widow.

Free Bible Version

When you shake the olive trees to knock down the olives, don't go over the branches again. What's left is for the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows.

Geneva Bible 1599

When thou beatest thine oliue tree, thou shalt not goe ouer the boughes againe, but it shalbe for the stranger, for the fatherlesse, and for the widowe.

King James (Authorized) Version

When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

One Unity Resource Bible

When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again. It shall be for the foreigner, for the orphan, and for the widow.

Translation for Translators

And when you have harvested/picked all your olives from the trees once, do not go back to pick the ones that are still on the trees.

Unlocked Literal Bible

When you shake your olive tree, you must not go over the branches again; it will be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, or for the widow.

Noah Webster Bible

When thou beatest thy olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

World English Bible

When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Young's Literal Translation

'When thou beatest thine olive, thou dost not examine the branch behind thee; to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, it is.

Context

Additional Laws

¹⁹If you are harvesting in your field and forget a sheaf there, do not go back to get it. It is to be left for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.²⁰When you beat the olives from your trees, you must not go over the branches again. What remains will be for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow.

Sermons

Confiding Trust and Patient Submission

J.C. Philpot

Summary

This verse instructs the Israelites to leave some of the harvest behind in their fields and olive groves for the benefit of the foreigners, orphans, and widows. It reflects God's compassion for the marginalized and vulnerable members of society, emphasizing the importance of generosity and care for those in need. By practicing this commandment, the Israelites were reminded of their responsibility to show kindness and provide for the less fortunate, mirroring God's own concern for the disadvantaged. This verse underscores the principle of sharing blessings with others and promoting social justice within the community.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

When thou beatest thine olive tree,.... With sticks and staves, to get off the olives when ripe: thou shall not go over the boughs again; to beat off some few that may remain; they were not nicely to examine the boughs over again, whether there were any left or not: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow; who might come into their oliveyards after the trees had been beaten, and gather what were left.