And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
Don't pick every grape from your vineyard or gather up what you missed the first time. Leave some for the poor and foreigners living among you. I am the LORD your God.
God is commanding His people to deliberately leave part of their harvest unharvested so that poor people and foreigners can gather food for themselves.
📚 Historical Context
This command was part of God's law given to Israel through Moses, establishing a social safety net in an agricultural society. In ancient Israel, gleaning (gathering leftover crops after harvest) was a recognized right of the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. This system provided dignity to those in need by allowing them to work for their food rather than simply receive charity.
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