What grows of itself in your harvest you shall not reap, and you shall not gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 5. Reap entirely, but only take a part, verse 6.—First-fruits. None shall be this year presented to the Lord. Hebrew has the word Nezireka, “Nazareat,” alluding to the custom of those who, out of devotion, let their hair grow; as here only the spontaneous fruits of the unpruned vine were to be eaten; they were separated, as the word also means, or “sanctified,” (Sept.) being abandoned indifferently for the use of any one that pleased to eat of them, and no longer fenced in by the proprietor, ( Calmet.) though he might take the first, or choicest fruits for his own use, ( Menochius.) or at least he might take his share like the rest. Tirinus.