Deuteronomy 14:1

Clean and Unclean Animals · Deuteronomy 14:1–21
Read Deuteronomy 14

Translations

Modern
You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,
Traditional
Ye are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
Literal
You are sons of YHWH your God; you shall not cut yourselves, nor make a baldness between your eyes on behalf of the dead.
Latin
Filii estote Domini Dei vestri: non vos incidetis, nec facietis calvitium super mortuo:

Original

Hebrew
English
You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,

Notes

  • cut yourselves: This pagan custom often linked to mourning ceremonies, possibly to try to get the dead to return to life (see 1 Kings 18:28; Zechariah 13:4–6).

  • shave your foreheads: This practice also related to mourning for the dead (see Leviticus 19:27–28; 21:5–6). But the exact meaning of this ceremony is unclear.

Parallels

Leviticus 11:1–47 Acts 10:9–16

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Baldness Biblical Concept of Law Covenant Deuteronomy, Book of Mourning

Topics

Adoption: Spiritual Baldness: Artificial, As an Idolatrous Practice, Forbidden Cutting: (The Flesh for the Dead): Forbidden Getting Tattoos God: Fatherhood of Idolatry: Wicked Practices of Practices of, Relating to the Dead Mourning for the Dead: Cutting the Flesh Piercings and Tattoos Self Mutilation The Dead: Heathenish Expressions of Grief For, Forbidden The Eye: The Jews: Not to Make Baldness Between Titles and Names of Saints: Children of the Lord Unclean: (Ceremonially Speaking): Creatures Designated As Such