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Read the Verse of the Day – Deuteronomy 14:21 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
The Word of God speaks to every part of life. Even laws that seem small can teach us great truths. Deuteronomy 14:21 is one of those verses. It may sound unusual at first, but it carries a deep message about holiness, obedience, and how God’s people should live.
The Context of Deuteronomy 14:21 KJV
The Book of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. It is part of the Law of Moses, also called the Torah. The word “Deuteronomy” means “second law.” It is not a new law, but a summary and restating of what God had already given His people.
Moses gave these instructions near the end of his life. The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. Moses wanted to make sure they remembered God’s commandments. He reminded them how God rescued them from Egypt. He called them to be holy, to live differently from the nations around them.
The Structure of Deuteronomy 14
Deuteronomy 14 is part of a section that focuses on clean and unclean food. God gave rules about what the Israelites could and could not eat. These food laws were part of what set them apart as God’s holy people.
Here’s how Deuteronomy 14 is structured:
Verses 1–2: Israel is God’s chosen people.
Verses 3–8: Clean and unclean land animals.
Verses 9–10: Clean and unclean sea creatures.
Verses 11–18: Clean and unclean birds.
Verses 19–20: Flying insects.
Verse 21: Dead animals, cooking, and dietary separation.
So Deuteronomy 14:21 comes at the end of this list. It is a final command in this section, and it teaches something very important.
Deuteronomy 14:21 (KJV)
Here is the verse in the King James Version:
“Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.” — Deuteronomy 14:21 (KJV)
This verse contains two main instructions:
- Don’t eat animals that die on their own.
- Don’t boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Each of these commands may seem strange, but they carry deep meaning when we study them carefully.
Deuteronomy 14:21 Meaning
1. “Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself”
This means the Israelites were forbidden to eat animals that died on their own, such as from disease, old age, or injury. They were not killed properly or bled out. Therefore, these animals were considered unclean.
In the Law of Moses, blood represented life. God told His people to never eat blood:
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” — Leviticus 17:11 (KJV)
When an animal died on its own, the blood stayed in the body. Eating such meat would go against God’s design for clean food. It would defile a person.
This rule also taught respect for life and God’s order. Life and death were not to be treated lightly. The way an animal died mattered. God’s people had to be different, even in what they ate.
2. “Thou shalt give it unto the stranger… or thou mayest sell it unto an alien”
God allowed Israelites to give or sell this dead animal meat to non-Israelites—specifically, strangers or foreigners living among them.
This part may raise a question: if it was unclean for Israelites, why was it allowed for others?
We need to understand the difference between ceremonial law and moral law:
- Ceremonial laws were given to set Israel apart and teach holiness.
- Moral laws are universal, like “Do not steal” or “Do not lie.”
The rule about not eating animals that died naturally was ceremonial. It was a command for God’s chosen people, not for everyone.
Foreigners were not under the same covenant. That is why they could eat what was unclean to Israel.
This rule taught that Israel was different, chosen, and holy. It did not mean the meat was evil or deadly—it just wasn’t for God’s holy people.
3. “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God”
This is the key phrase in the verse. It explains why these food laws mattered.
God called Israel to be holy, which means “set apart” or “different.” Their food, clothing, worship, and lifestyle were all meant to reflect their relationship with God.
These laws weren’t about nutrition. They were about spiritual identity. The Israelites belonged to the Lord. They were to reflect His holiness in everything they did.
4. “Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk”
This command is repeated three times in the Law (Exodus 23:19, 34:26, and here).
It means: Do not cook a baby goat in the milk of its own mother.
This may seem like a small or strange rule, but scholars believe this was connected to pagan religious practices. Some Canaanite rituals used this kind of cooking in idol worship or fertility rituals.
God’s people were forbidden to copy the practices of the nations around them. Even the way they cooked was to be pure and different.
This command also shows compassion. Cooking a young animal in its own mother’s milk is cruel and unnatural. God’s laws always reflect His mercy and justice—even toward animals.
Deuteronomy 14:21 Application in Life
1. God Cares About Every Area of Life
This verse shows that God is not just concerned about worship in church. He cares about how we live every day, even how we eat or prepare food.
We may not follow Old Testament food laws today, but the principle still stands: God wants His people to be holy in all things.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)
2. Holiness Is a Daily Calling
God told Israel, “You are a holy people.” That message still applies today.
As Christians, we are called to be holy:
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” — 1 Peter 1:15 (KJV)
We must live in a way that honors God, in every word, action, and thought. We should not follow the sinful customs of the world. Our lives should show that we belong to Jesus.
3. Avoid What Is Spiritually Unclean
Just as Israel avoided unclean meat, we are to avoid what corrupts our souls.
Today, we are not bound by food laws. Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). But He also said that sin comes from the heart.
We must guard ourselves from:
- Bitterness
- Lust
- Gossip
- Pride
- Unbelief
These are the things that make us unclean. The Holy Spirit helps us to live in purity.
4. Treat Others with Grace
This verse also teaches how to treat non-believers. God allowed Israelites to give meat to strangers. This shows that while God calls His people to a higher standard, He does not teach hatred toward others.
As believers, we are to live holy lives without judging harshly or looking down on others.
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without…” — Colossians 4:5 (KJV)
We are called to love the lost, even while we live differently. We should share the hope of Christ through kindness, grace, and truth.
5. Keep Away from Pagan Influences
The command not to boil a goat in its mother’s milk reminds us to avoid anything that links us to idolatry or false religion.
Today, we may not see ancient pagan practices, but the spirit of the world is still strong. We must be careful not to mix the things of God with the ideas of the world.
We avoid spiritual danger when we:
- Read and know the Bible
- Pray for wisdom and discernment
- Stay away from false teachings
- Worship the true and living God
6. Jesus Fulfills the Law
Finally, we remember that all these laws pointed to Jesus Christ.
He is our holiness. He lived a perfect life and obeyed every law. Then He died for our sins and rose again to make us clean.
We do not follow ceremonial laws today because Jesus has fulfilled them. But the spiritual truth remains: we are to be holy as God is holy.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” — Romans 10:4 (KJV)
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 14:21 teaches powerful lessons through simple commands. God told the Israelites:
- Not to eat animals that died naturally
- To give or sell such meat to foreigners
- Not to cook a young goat in its mother’s milk
- To live as a holy people
Though these commands were given long ago, the message still applies today. God wants His people to live holy, set-apart lives. He cares about our actions, our attitudes, and even our daily routines.
As Christians, we are made holy through Jesus. Now we live to please Him in every part of life. May we walk in purity, truth, and love—showing the world that we belong to the Lord.
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