You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall purchase food from them for money, that you may eat. You shall also buy water from them for money, that you may drink.’”
- KJV Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.
- NKJV You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.
- NASB You are to buy food from them with money so that you may eat, and you shall also purchase water from them with money so that you may drink.
- NLT If you need food to eat or water to drink, pay them for it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel was to buy food and water from Edom with money rather than taking them. They were to deal honestly with their neighbors.
Overview
God instructs Israel to pay for what they consume in Edom's territory, modeling integrity and fairness toward others. Even God's chosen people were not to exploit their neighbors but to act justly. This command reflects the broader biblical ethic of honesty and respect for others' property. It anticipates the love-of-neighbor that Christ identifies as central to the law, expressing faith through righteous dealing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Deut 2:28–29You can sell us food to eat and water to drink in exchange for silver. Only let us pass through on foot,
- Rom 12:17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Num 20:19“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”
- 2 Th 3:7–8For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
- Matt 7:12In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 2:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.