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Deuteronomy 24:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 24:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 24

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Thou shalt not wrest the justice [due] to the sojourner, [or] to the fatherless, nor take the widow`s raiment to pledge;
18but thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
19When thou reapest thy harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands.
20When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
21When thou gatherest [the grapes of] thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it after thee: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.
← Deuteronomy 24:19Deuteronomy 24:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“When thou beatest thine olive tree, etc.] With sticks and staves, to get off the olives when ripe: thou shall not go over the boughs again; to beat off some few that may remain; they were not nicely to examine the boughs over again, whether there were any left or not: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow; who might come into their oliveyards after the trees had been beaten, and gather what were left.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare the marginal references. The motive assigned for these various acts of consideration is one and the same Deuteronomy 24:18, Deuteronomy 24:22. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Deuteronomy 24". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/deuteronomy-24.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“go over the boughs again: Heb. bough it after thee, Deu 24:20 Deuteronomy 24:21”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 24 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification