When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
When you harvest the grapes from your vineyard, don't go back through to gather what you missed. Leave those grapes for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.
God is commanding His people to intentionally leave part of their harvest for those who are poor and vulnerable in society.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, agriculture was a central part of daily life, and God provided laws in the Mosaic covenant to promote social justice and care for the marginalized. This verse from Deuteronomy instructs Israelite farmers not to collect every grape from their vineyards after the initial harvest, leaving the leftovers specifically for strangers, orphans, and widows who lacked their own resources. This command reflected God's ongoing concern for the vulnerable in a society where land ownership and family support were essential for survival.
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