Deuteronomy 26:3 - First fruits declaration to Kohen

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Hebrew Text

וּבָאתָ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵן אֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו הִגַּדְתִּי הַיּוֹם לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ כִּי־בָאתִי אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ לָתֶת לָנוּ׃

English Translation

And thou shalt go to the priest that shall be in those days, and say to him, I profess this day to the Lord thy God, that I am come to the country which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.

Transliteration

U'vata el-hakohen asher yihyeh ba'yamim ha'hem ve'amarta elav higadeti hayom la'Adonai Eloheicha ki-vati el-ha'aretz asher nishba Adonai la'avoteinu latet lanu.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּבָאתָ֙ אֶל־הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֑ם וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֗יו הִגַּ֤דְתִּי הַיּוֹם֙ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּי־בָ֙אתִי֙ אֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהֹוָ֛ה לַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ לָ֥תֶת לָֽנוּ׃

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

The verse (Devarim 26:3) appears in the context of the mitzvah of Bikkurim (first fruits), where one brings the first fruits of the harvest to the Beit HaMikdash and makes a declaration before the Kohen. This mitzvah applies only after entering Eretz Yisrael and settling the land.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Devarim 26:3) explains that the phrase "the priest that shall be in those days" teaches that one must honor the Kohen of his generation, even if he is not as great as the Kohanim of previous generations. This principle applies to all leadership roles—one must respect the authority of the current leaders, as they are the ones entrusted with guiding the people in their time.

Rambam's Perspective

In Hilchot Bikkurim (3:1-3), the Rambam elaborates on the procedure of bringing Bikkurim, emphasizing that this declaration is a recognition of Hakadosh Baruch Hu's kindness in fulfilling the promise to our forefathers. The declaration acknowledges both the historical covenant and the present reality of dwelling in the land.

Midrashic Insight

The Midrash (Sifrei Devarim 301) connects this verse to the broader theme of gratitude. By stating "I have come to the land", the individual expresses thanks not only for the physical land but also for the fulfillment of divine promises. This teaches that recognizing Hashem's role in our lives is fundamental to Jewish identity.

Halachic Implications

The declaration must be made in Hebrew (Mishna Sotah 7:2), showing the sanctity of the language in connecting to divine service.
The Kohen's role is essential—he serves as the intermediary for this mitzvah, symbolizing the link between the people and the divine presence in the Beit HaMikdash.
The phrase "to the Lord your God" (לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ) emphasizes that the declaration is directed to Hashem, even though it is spoken to the Kohen (Kli Yakar).

Philosophical Meaning

The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 606) explains that this mitzvah instills humility and gratitude. By bringing the first fruits—the most prized produce—and verbally acknowledging Hashem's role, one internalizes that all blessings come from divine providence, not human effort alone.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 32b

The verse is cited in the context of discussing the declaration made when bringing the first fruits (Bikkurim) to the Temple, illustrating the procedure and the declaration's wording as prescribed in the Torah.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 26:3 mean?
A: Deuteronomy 26:3 describes the mitzvah (commandment) of bringing the first fruits (Bikkurim) to the Kohen (priest) in the Temple. When a person enters the Land of Israel and harvests their first fruits, they must bring them to the Kohen and make a declaration acknowledging G-d's fulfillment of His promise to give the land to our ancestors.

Q: Why is the declaration in Deuteronomy 26:3 important?
A: The declaration is important because it expresses gratitude to G-d for bringing us into the Land of Israel and fulfilling His covenant with our forefathers. Rashi explains that this mitzvah helps us recognize that our blessings come from G-d and strengthens our connection to Jewish history and the Land of Israel.

Q: How does Deuteronomy 26:3 apply today without the Temple?
A: Although we cannot bring Bikkurim to the Temple today, the lesson of gratitude remains. The Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Bikkurim 1:1-4) teaches that remembering this mitzvah inspires us to thank G-d for our sustenance. Many also see this as a reminder of our bond with the Land of Israel even in exile.

Q: Why does the verse say 'the priest that shall be in those days'?
A: The Talmud (Sotah 40a) explains that we must respect the Kohen of each generation, even if he is not as great as previous Kohanim. This teaches humility and the importance of honoring Torah leadership in every era.

Q: What can we learn from the phrase 'which the Lord swore to our fathers'?
A: This phrase, as explained in the Midrash (Sifrei Devarim), reminds us that the Land of Israel was given to us based on G-d's eternal covenant with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. It connects our present to our sacred past and reinforces our right to the land through divine promise.