Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man [shall give] as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
13-17. Thou shalt observe the feastof tabernacles seven days(See on Ex23:14; Le 23:34; Nu29:12). Various conjectures have been formed to account for theappointment of this feast at the conclusion of the whole harvest.Some imagine that it was designed to remind the Israelites of thetime when they had no cornfields to reap but were daily supplied withmanna; others think that it suited the convenience of the peoplebetter than any other period of the year for dwelling in booths;others that it was the time of Moses’ second descent from the mount;while a fourth class are of opinion that this feast was fixed to thetime of the year when the Word was made flesh and dweltliterally,”tabernacled”among us (Joh1:14), Christ being actually born at that season.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Every man shall give as he is able,…. The quantity to be given is not fixed in the law, but the wise men appointed it, as observed on De 16:16 but it is left by the Lord to the generosity of the people, only giving this general rule, that they should do according to their ability, and as the Lord had prospered them; see
1Co 16:2 so Jarchi,
“every man that hath many eatables and much goods shall bring many burnt offerings and many peace offerings.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“Handfuls of Purpose”
For All Gleaners
“… as he is able.” Deu 16:17
This is the law of giving in the Old Testament, and it is the law of giving in the New Testament. It is a just and equitable law. It devolves a supreme responsibility upon the giver. It makes him an accountant in the sight of God. He has to add up his resources and diligently to consider their sum, and then to give as he may be able. This law does not relate to money only, but to time, influence, and sympathy. Nothing would be so easy for many men as to buy themselves off, by the gifts of money, from all further service. Simply because of the abundance of their wealth, money is as nothing to them, and the giving of it is not felt. It is only when the giving is touched with the pain of sacrifice that it becomes of any value in the sanctuary. Still, most of us have to begin with the donation of money, but no man has to end with it. There is no niggardliness in the promises of God in relation to the true giver, of whatever nature his gifts may be. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” Jesus Christ noticed what gifts were thrown into the treasury, and he regarded them all i a the light of proportion. “God is not unrighteous to forget your work of faith and labour of love.” Not a cup of cold water, is to go unrewarded if given to a disciple in the name of Christ. These grand moral standards of gift and service constitute a powerful defence of the heavenly origin of the Bible.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
man. Hebrew. ‘ish. See App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
as he is able: Heb. according to the gift of his hand, Deu 16:10, Lev 27:8, Ezr 2:63, Mar 12:41-44, 2Co 8:12, 2Co 9:6, 2Co 9:7
Reciprocal: Exo 25:2 – they Lev 23:37 – the feasts Deu 31:11 – to appear 1Ch 21:24 – Nay Eze 46:5 – as he shall be able to give Mat 5:23 – thou
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16:17 Every man [shall give] as he is {h} able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
(h) According to the ability that God has given him.