Deuteronomy 23:25
New International Version
If you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to their standing grain.

New Living Translation
And when you enter your neighbor’s field of grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not harvest it with a sickle.

English Standard Version
If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.

Berean Standard Bible
When you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.

King James Bible
When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

New King James Version
When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

New American Standard Bible
“When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you are not to use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

NASB 1995
“When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain.

NASB 1977
“When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain.

Legacy Standard Bible
“When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain.

Amplified Bible
“When you come into the standing grain of your neighbor, you may pluck the ears of grain with your hand, but you shall not wield a sickle in your neighbor’s standing grain [to harvest it].

Christian Standard Bible
When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck heads of grain with your hand, but do not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you enter your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.”

American Standard Version
When thou comest into thy neighbor's standing grain, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor's standing grain.

Contemporary English Version
In the same way, if you are in a grain field that belongs to someone else, you can pick heads of grain and eat the kernels. But don't cut down the stalks of grain and take them with you.

English Revised Version
When thou comest into thy neighbour's standing corn, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If you go into your neighbor's grain field, you may pick grain by hand. But never use a sickle to cut your neighbor's grain.

Good News Translation
When you walk along a path in someone else's grainfield, you may eat all the grain you can pull off with your hands, but you must not cut any grain with a sickle.

International Standard Version
When you enter your countrymen's grain fields, you may pluck the grain with your hand, but don't put a sickle to his standing grain."

Majority Standard Bible
When you enter your neighbor?s grainfield, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor?s grain.

NET Bible
When you go into the ripe grain fields of your neighbor you may pluck off the kernels with your hand, but you must not use a sickle on your neighbor's ripe grain.

New Heart English Bible
When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not move a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.

Webster's Bible Translation
When thou comest into the standing-corn of thy neighbor, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand: but thou shalt not move a sickle to thy neighbor's standing-corn.

World English Bible
When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When you come in among the standing grain of your neighbor, then you have plucked the ears with your hand, but you do not wave a sickle over the standing grain of your neighbor.”

Young's Literal Translation
When thou comest in among the standing-corn of thy neighbour, then thou hast plucked the ears with thy hand, but a sickle thou dost not wave over the standing-corn of thy neighbour.

Smith's Literal Translation
When thou shalt come into thy friend's standing grain, pluck off the ears with thine hand, and thou shalt not lift up a sickle upon thy friend's standing grain.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou go into thy friend's corn, thou mayst break the ears, and rub them in thy hand: but not reap them with a sickle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If you enter into your friend’s grain field, you may break off the ears, and rub them in your hand, but you may not reap them with a sickle.”

New American Bible
When you go through your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pluck some of the ears with your hand, but do not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.

New Revised Standard Version
If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When you come into the standing wheat of your neighbor, you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when you enter the standing grain of your neighbor, pick the ears with your hands, and do not lift a sickle against the standing grain of your neighbor.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
When thou comest into thy neighbour's standing corn, then thou mayest pluck ears with thy hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if thou shouldest go into the corn field of thy neighbour, then thou mayest gather the ears with thy hands; but thou shalt not put the sickle to thy neighbour's corn.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Miscellaneous Laws
24When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, but you must not put any in your basket. 25When you enter your neighbor’s grainfield, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain.

Cross References
Matthew 12:1
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.

Mark 2:23
One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along.

Luke 6:1
One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them.

Leviticus 19:9-10
When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. / You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

Ruth 2:2-3
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied. / So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

Exodus 23:11
but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.

Leviticus 23:22
When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap all the way to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident. I am the LORD your God.’”

Proverbs 22:28
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.

1 Corinthians 9:9-10
For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? / Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.

James 5:4
Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

Genesis 41:47-49
During the seven years of abundance, the land brought forth bountifully. / During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it. / So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it; for it was beyond measure.

2 Kings 4:42
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.

Isaiah 17:5
as the reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.


Treasury of Scripture

When you come into the standing corn of your neighbor, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not move a sickle to your neighbor's standing corn.

then thou mayest

Matthew 12:1,2
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat…

Mark 2:23
And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

Luke 6:1,2
And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands…

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Blade Bor Corn Ears Enter Hand Hands Heads Kernels Mayest Move Neighbor Neighbor's Neighbour Neighbour's Pick Pluck Plucked Sickle Standing Wield
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Blade Bor Corn Ears Enter Hand Hands Heads Kernels Mayest Move Neighbor Neighbor's Neighbour Neighbour's Pick Pluck Plucked Sickle Standing Wield
Deuteronomy 23
1. Who may or may not enter into the congregation
9. Uncleanness is to be avoided in the host
15. Of the fugitive servant
17. Of filthiness
18. Of abominable sacrifices
19. Of usury
20. Of vows
24. Of trespass














When you enter your neighbor’s grainfield
This phrase sets the context of the verse within an agrarian society where fields of grain were common. The Hebrew word for "enter" (בּוֹא, bo) implies a physical movement into a space, suggesting permission and access. In ancient Israel, community and neighborly relations were vital, and this law reflects a balance between personal need and respect for another's property. The term "neighbor" (רֵעֶךָ, re'eka) emphasizes the close-knit nature of Israelite society, where mutual respect and care were foundational.

you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand
The allowance to "pluck" (קָטַף, qataf) indicates a provision for immediate need, such as hunger, without causing significant harm to the field. This reflects God's provision and care for individuals, ensuring that even the poor or travelers could find sustenance. The act of using one's "hand" (יָד, yad) rather than tools underscores the personal and limited nature of this action, preventing exploitation and ensuring that the act remains one of necessity rather than greed.

but you must not put a sickle to your neighbor’s grain
The prohibition against using a "sickle" (חֶרֶב, cherev) highlights the importance of respecting another's property and livelihood. A sickle, a tool for harvesting, represents a more permanent and extensive action, which would equate to theft. This distinction between hand-plucking and using a sickle underscores the principle of fairness and integrity. The law protects the rights of the property owner while allowing for compassion and provision for those in need.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

you enter
תָבֹא֙ (ṯā·ḇō)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

your neighbor’s
רֵעֶ֔ךָ (rê·‘e·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

grainfield,
בְּקָמַ֣ת (bə·qā·maṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7054: Something that rises, a stalk of grain

you may pluck
וְקָטַפְתָּ֥ (wə·qā·ṭap̄·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6998: To pluck off or out

the heads of grain
מְלִילֹ֖ת (mə·lî·lōṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4425: An ear (of wheat)

with your hand,
בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (bə·yā·ḏe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

but you must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

put
תָנִ֔יף (ṯā·nîp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5130: To move to and fro, wave, sprinkle

a sickle
וְחֶרְמֵשׁ֙ (wə·ḥer·mêš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2770: A sickle

to
עַ֖ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your neighbor’s
רֵעֶֽךָ׃ (rê·‘e·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

grain.
קָמַ֥ת (qā·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7054: Something that rises, a stalk of grain


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 23:25 When you come into your neighbor's standing (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 23:24
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