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Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Deuteronomy 22:7

You may take the young birds, but you must let the mother bird go free. Then things will go well for you, and you will live a long time.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Animals;   Birds;   Life;   Reward;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Birds;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Birds;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Nature;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Animals;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Alms;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cow;   Fowler;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Beast;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Leviticus;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Dam;   Deuteronomy;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Birds'-nests;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Commandments, the 613;   Daniel ben Moses Al-ḳumisi;   Elisha ben Abuyah;   Grace, Divine;   ḥullin;   Jacob;   Life;   Skeptic;   Theology;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
You may take the young for yourself, but be sure to let the mother go free, so that you may prosper and live long.
Hebrew Names Version
you shall surely let the hen go, but the young you may take to yourself; that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.
King James Version
But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
Lexham English Bible
you shall certainly let the mother go, but you may take the young for yourselves; do this so that it may go well for you and you may live long in the land.
English Standard Version
You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.
New English Translation
You must be sure to let the mother go, but you may take the young for yourself. Do this so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life.
Amplified Bible
"You shall certainly let the mother go, but you may take the young for yourself, so that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.
New American Standard Bible
you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may go well for you and that you may prolong your days.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But shalt in any wise let the damme go, & take the yong to thee, that thou mayest prosper and prolong thy dayes.
Legacy Standard Bible
you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.
Complete Jewish Bible
You must let the mother go, but you may take the chicks for yourself; so that things will go well with you, and you will prolong your life.
Darby Translation
thou shalt in any case let the dam go, and thou mayest take the young to thee, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
Easy-to-Read Version
You may take the babies for yourself, but you must let the mother go. If you obey these laws, things will go well for you, and you will live a long time.
George Lamsa Translation
But you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself; that it may be well with you, and that you may live long.
Good News Translation
You may take the young birds, but you must let the mother bird go, so that you will live a long and prosperous life.
Literal Translation
But in every case you shall let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, so that it may be well with you, and you may prolong your days.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but shalt let the dame flye, and take the yonge, that thou mayest prospere and lyue longe.
American Standard Version
thou shalt surely let the dam go, but the young thou mayest take unto thyself; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
Bible in Basic English
See that you let the mother bird go, but the young ones you may take; so it will be well for you and your life will be long.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But shalt in any wyse let the damme go, & take the young to thee, that thou mayest prosper, and prolong thy dayes.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, but the young thou mayest take unto thyself; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
King James Version (1611)
But thou shalt in any wise let the damme goe, and take the yong to thee, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy dayes.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thou shalt by all means let the mother go, but thou shalt take the young to thyself; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest live long.
English Revised Version
thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, but the young thou mayest take unto thyself; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
Berean Standard Bible
You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and schalt holde the sones takun, that it be wel to thee, and thou lyue in long tyme. Whanne thou bildist a newe hows,
Young's Literal Translation
thou dost certainly send away the mother, and the young ones dost take to thyself, so that it is well with thee, and thou hast prolonged days.
Update Bible Version
you shall surely let the dam go, but the young you may take to yourself; that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.
Webster's Bible Translation
[But] thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and [that] thou mayest prolong [thy] days.
World English Bible
you shall surely let the hen go, but the young you may take to yourself; that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.
New King James Version
you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.
New Living Translation
You may take the young, but let the mother go, so that you may prosper and enjoy a long life.
New Life Bible
Be sure to let the mother go. But you may take the young for yourself. Then it will go well with you, and you will live long.
New Revised Standard
Let the mother go, taking only the young for yourself, in order that it may go well with you and you may live long.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
thou shalt let toll the mother, and then, her young, mayest thou take for thyself, - that it may go well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But shalt let her go, keeping the young which thou hast caught: that it may be well with thee, and thou mayst live a long time.
Revised Standard Version
you shall let the mother go, but the young you may take to yourself; that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
you shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days.

Contextual Overview

5 A woman must not wear men's clothes, and a man must not wear women's clothes. The Lord your God hates anyone who does that. 6 If you find a bird's nest by the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother bird is sitting on the young birds or eggs, do not take the mother bird with the young birds. 7 You may take the young birds, but you must let the mother bird go free. Then things will go well for you, and you will live a long time. 8 When you build a new house, build a low wall around the edge of the roof so you will not be guilty if someone falls off the roof. 9 Don't plant two different kinds of seeds in your vineyard. Otherwise, both crops will be ruined. 10 Don't plow with an ox and a donkey tied together. 11 Don't wear clothes made of wool and linen woven together. 12 Tie several pieces of thread together; then put these tassels on the four corners of your coat.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

But thou shalt: The extirpation of any species of birds, whether edible or birds of prey, is often attended with serious consequences, and is always productive of evil; to prevent which was the object of this law. Palestine is situated in a climate producing poisonous snakes and scorpions, and between deserts and mountains, from which it would be inundated by them, as well as with immense swarms of flies, locusts, and mice, if the birds which feed upon them were extirpated. In a moral point of view, it may have been intended to inculcate a spirit of mercy and kindness, and to prevent the exercise of cruelty even towards a sparrow; for he who is guilty of such cruelty will, if circumstances be favourable, be cruel to his fellow-creatures.

that it may: Deuteronomy 4:40

thou mayest: Proverbs 22:4

Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:28 - ye shall not kill it Deuteronomy 5:29 - that it might Deuteronomy 6:2 - thy days Ephesians 6:3 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 8:20
Then Noah built an altar to the Lord . He took some of all the clean birds and animals, and he burned them on the altar as offerings to God.
Genesis 22:2
Then God said, "Take your only son, Isaac, the son you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Kill him there and offer him as a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Genesis 22:4
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
Exodus 12:3
Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must get one lamb for the people in his house.
Matthew 26:39
After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, do not give me this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want."
Matthew 26:42
Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this painful thing to be taken from me, and if I must do it, I pray that what you want will be done."
John 18:11
Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back. Shouldn't I drink the cup the Father gave me?"
Romans 8:15
The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, "Father."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But thou shall in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee,.... Or "in letting go, let go", or "in sending, send away" a; that is, willingly, certainly, entirely, frequently, always; so the Jewish canons b,

"if anyone lets her go, and she returns, even four or five times, he is obliged to let her go, as it is said, "in letting go, let go";''

nay, Maimonides says c, even a thousand times; the canon proceeds,

"if anyone says, lo, I take the dam and let go the young, he is obliged to let her go; if he takes the young, and returns them again to the nest, and after that returns the dam to them, he is free from letting her go;''

that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days; the Targum of Jonathan is,

"that it may be well with thee in this world, and thou mayest prolong thy days in the world to come:''

the same blessing that is promised to observers of the fifth command, which is one of the weightier matters of the law, is made to this; which the Jews say d is but as the value of a farthing, or of little account in comparison of others; wherefore, as Fagius rightly observes e, God, in bestowing such rewards, has regard not to the works of men, but to his own grace and kindness; for what merit can there be in letting go or preserving the life of a little bird?

a שלח תשלח "dimittendo dimittes", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so Ainsworth. b Misn. Cholin, c. 12. sect. 3. c In Misn. ib. d Misn. ib. sect. 5. e In loc.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These precepts are designed to cultivate a spirit of humanity. Compare Deuteronomy 25:4; Leviticus 22:28; and 1 Corinthians 9:9-10.

Deuteronomy 22:8

The roofs of houses in Palestine were flat and used for various purposes. Compare Jos 2:6; 2 Samuel 11:2; Acts 10:9, etc. A battlement was almost a necessary protection. It was to be, according to the rabbis, at least two cubits high (about 3 ft.).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Deuteronomy 22:7. Thou shalt - let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee — This passage may be understood literally. If they destroyed both young and old, must not the breed soon fail, and would it not in the end be ill with them; and by thus cutting off the means of their continual support, must not their days be shortened on the land? But we may look for a humane precept in this law. The young never knew the sweets of liberty; the dam did: they might be taken and used for any lawful purpose, but the dam must not be brought into a state of captivity. They who can act otherwise must be either very inconsiderate or devoid of feeling; and such persons can never be objects of God's peculiar care and attention, and therefore need not expect that it shall be well with them, or that they shall prolong their days on the earth. Every thing contrary to the spirit of mercy and kindness the ever blessed God has in utter abhorrence. And we should remember a fact, that he who can exercise cruelty towards a sparrow or a wren, will, when circumstances are favourable, be cruel to his fellow creatures. The poet Phocylides has a maxim in his admonitory poem very similar to that in the sacred text: -

Μηδε τις ορυιθας καλιης ἁμα παντας ἑλεσθω·

Μητερα δ' εκπρολιπῃς, ἱν' εχῃς παλι τησδε νεοττους.

PHOCYL. Ποιημα Νουθετ., ver. 80.

"Nor from a nest take all the birds away;

The mother spare, she'll breed a future day."


 
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