When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.
Parallel translations
- WEB When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, then you may eat of grapes your fill at your own pleasure; but you shall not put any in your container.
- BSB When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not put any in your basket.
- ESV “If you go into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your bag.
- NKJV “When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.
- NASB “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat grapes until you are satisfied; but you are not to put any in your basket.
- NLT “When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not carry any away in a basket.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
A traveler passing through a neighbor's vineyard may freely eat grapes to satisfy hunger, but may not carry any away. Generosity and respect for property are held together.
Overview
This law balances neighborly hospitality with honoring ownership: the hungry could eat their fill on the spot, but gathering grapes into a container would be theft. It reflects God's concern that the land's bounty serve real human need without licensing greed. The disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1) shows this principle still operative in Jesus' day.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Cor 10:26For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
- Rom 12:13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
- Heb 13:5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 23:24 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.