Deuteronomy 22:6 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 22:6 Commentary: Sparing the Mother Bird
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine the law about not taking a mother bird with her young. Explore its purpose in cultivating compassion, preserving creation, and reflecting God's care.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Do not take a mother bird with her young; let her go, and you may take the young.
- Key words: ‘nest’ (qen) connotes a dwelling; ‘mother’ (em) stresses maternal bond; ‘take’ (laqach) implies seizure or possession.
- Main debate: Is the law primarily about compassion (Calvin, Barnes) or about practical species conservation (Michaelis via JFB)?
- Theological theme: God’s care extends to all creatures; human character is formed in how we treat the weak and dependent.
- Best use: A sermon on everyday compassion, or a study on the connection between God’s law and ecological wisdom.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
If you come across a bird’s nest with chicks or eggs, either in a tree or on the ground along the road, and the mother is sitting on the chicks or eggs, you must not take the mother along with the young.
WEB World English Bible 2000
If you come across a bird’s nest on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the hen sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the hen with the young.
KJV King James Version 1769
If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`When a bird's nest cometh before thee in the way, in any tree, or on the earth, brood or eggs, and the mother sitting on the brood or on the eggs, thou dost not take the mother with the young ones;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way, in any tree, or upon the ground, with young or with eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
If thou find as thou walkest by the way, a bird's nest in a tree, or on the ground, and the dam sitting upon the young or upon the eggs: thou shalt not take her with her young:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Cuando topares en el camino algún nido de ave en cualquier árbol, ó sobre la tierra, con pollos ó huevos, y estuviere la madre echada sobre los pollos ó sobre los huevos, no tomes la madre con los hijos:
Quando achares no caminho algum ninho de ave em qualquer árvore, ou sobre a terra, com passarinhos ou ovos, e estiver a mãe reclinada sobre os passarinhos ou sobre os ovos, não tomes a mãe com os filhos:
Si tu rencontres dans ton chemin un nid d’ oiseau, sur un arbre ou sur la terre, avec des petits ou des œufs, et la mère couchée sur les petits ou sur les œufs, tu ne prendras pas la mère et les petits,
Wenn du auf dem Wege findest ein Vogelnest auf einem Baum oder auf der Erde, mit Jungen oder mit Eiern, und daß die Mutter auf den Jungen oder auf den Eiern sitzt, so sollst du nicht die Mutter mit den Jungen nehmen,
Wanneer voor uw aangezicht een vogelnest op den weg voorkomt, in enigen boom, of op de aarde, met jongen of eieren, en de moeder zittende op de jongen of op de eieren, zo zult gij de moeder met de jongen niet nemen.
Quando, cammin facendo, t’avverrà di trovare sopra un albero o per terra un nido d’uccello con de’ pulcini o delle uova e la madre che cova i pulcini o le uova, non prenderai la madre coi piccini;
Gdybyś trafił gniazdo ptasze przed sobą w drodze, na jakiemkolwiek drzewie, albo na ziemi, a w niem ptaszęta albo jajka, a matka by siedziała na ptaszętach albo na jajkach, nie bierzże macierzy z dziećmi;
Если попадется тебе на дороге птичье гнездо на каком—либо дереве или на земле, с птенцами или яйцами, и мать сидит на птенцах или на яйцах, то не бери матери вместе с детьми:
「你若 路上 遇見 鳥 窩，或在 樹上 或 在 地上，裡頭有雛 或有 蛋，母鳥 伏 在 雛上 或 在 蛋上，你不可 連母 帶 雛 一併取去。
If by chance you see a place which a bird has made for itself in a tree or on the earth, with young ones or eggs, and the mother bird seated on the young ones or on the eggs, do not take the mother bird with the young:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 22:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this law aims to cultivate a spirit of humanity. Calvin calls it a supplement to the Sixth Commandment, training Israel in kindness. Barnes notes it is designed to foster compassion. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, citing Michaelis, sees practical wisdom: leaving the mother preserves the species and prevents ecological harm, birds control snakes, insects, and vermin. Gill points to Maimonides’ rationale: the mother should not suffer seeing her young taken. The Cambridge Bible suggests reverence for motherhood, given that the promise in verse 7 mirrors the Fifth Commandment. While some emphasize compassion and others conservation, the shared conviction is that God cares about how His people treat the smallest creatures, and this law trains their hearts.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Compassion / Humanity: Calvin, Barnes, and Matthew Henry emphasize training in kindness; the law prevents callousness and cultivates a gentle spirit.
- Conservation / Practical wisdom: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, citing Michaelis, notes that leaving the mother preserves the species and maintains ecological balance.
- Reverence for motherhood: Cambridge Bible and Lange point to the echo of the Fifth Commandment in v.7; the mother bird's care reflects a creational pattern that should be honored.
What is clear: The command itself is unambiguous: do not take the mother bird with her young; let her go. The purpose is to instill godly character, whether through compassion, wisdom, or respect for parenthood.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose of the law | The law trains Israel in humanity and kindness, restraining cruelty. | Some see compassion as the sole purpose (Calvin, Henry); others also stress practical conservation (Michaelis, JFB). |
| Scope of application (other animals) | The principle extends beyond birds to showing care for all creatures (Proverbs 12:10). | Jewish tradition limits it to clean birds and specific conditions (Gill cites Mishnah). Christians generally apply the principle more broadly. |
| Meaning of the promise in v. 7 | The promise of well-being and long life connects obedience to blessing. | Some link it specifically to reverence for motherhood (Cambridge); others see it as general blessing for following God’s ways. |
| Relevance today | The law reveals God’s concern for animals and ethical treatment of creation. | Should it be taken as a literal command still in force, or as a principle that informs Christian ethics? Most traditions treat it as part of the Old Covenant law that illustrates God’s character. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Deuteronomy 22:6 sits in a collection of laws about neighborly responsibility. The surrounding verses address lost property (vv. 1, 4), maintain sexual distinction (v. 5), require roof safety (v. 8), and forbid mixing kinds (vv. 9, 11). Each regulation protects something God values, another person’s goods, the dignity of the sexes, human life, and the order of creation. The bird’s-nest law continues this pattern.
The law assumes a chance encounter. The Hebrew verb yiqqārē (Niphal, ‘it happens to be met’) stresses the accidental nature of the find. No one is hunting or foraging; the nest is simply ‘before you in the way.’ The mother bird is sitting, rōvetzet, lying down, a posture of vulnerability. To take her while she shelters her young would exploit her maternal instinct. In an agrarian society where birds controlled pests and provided food, preserving the mother ensured future broods and ecological balance.
The promise attached in verse 7, “that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days”, echoes the Fifth Commandment. This link has led many to see the law as teaching reverence for motherhood, whether human or animal. The law is unique to Deuteronomy; no parallel exists in other ancient Near Eastern collections. It reveals a God who extends His concern beyond human relationships to the creatures that share the land.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, with the main difference being minor spelling variations (e.g., ʼefrōḥîm vs. ʼefrōḥîm). The command and promise are transmitted consistently.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, this law (shilluaḥ haqqen, ‘letting the mother go’) was codified in the Mishnah and Talmud. It is considered a light commandment that carries a great reward, the promise of long life, and was taken literally in practice. Maimonides explained its rationale as compassion, sparing the mother distress. Christian theologians from Augustine onward cited the law as evidence of God’s kindness and as a moral lesson against cruelty. Reformers like Calvin saw it as a concrete training in humanity. In the modern era, it has been invoked in discussions of animal welfare and environmental stewardship, reflecting an ongoing sense that God’s law calls us to care for the weakest creatures.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God cares about the small and vulnerable. A chance find of a bird’s nest is not beneath His notice. The law trains us to see creatures as He sees them, valuable, not disposable.
- Compassion is a learned habit. The restraint of not taking the mother is commanded, not optional. God shapes character through everyday choices, even in how we treat a bird.
- Obedience brings blessing. The promise of well-being and long life (v.7) is tied to this act of self-control. It’s not a mechanical reward but a sign that living God’s way leads to flourishing.
Five-point outline
- The setting, “on the way” suggests ordinary life; godliness is expressed in the unplanned moment.
- The characters, mother, young, eggs. The mother’s faithfulness to her brood mirrors God’s care.
- The command, “You shall not take the mother with the young.” Prohibition that protects posterity.
- The motivation, compassion for the mother, preservation of the species, reverence for life itself.
- The promise, “that it may be well with you” connects our treatment of creation to our own well-being.
Illustration hooks
- Gardening: When you find a rabbit’s nest while mowing, you stop, mark the spot, and wait. The instinct to spare the mother and young is natural; the law makes it holy.
- Workplace ethics: A small decision, not padding an expense report, returning extra change, shapes character. The bird’s nest law is about those small moments of integrity.
- Parenting: Teaching a child to let a butterfly go or to leave a spider web undisturbed can be a lesson in God’s care for all creatures.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this mean we should never kill animals for food or pest control?
- Why does God attach a promise of long life to something so small?
- How does this law apply in a world where we rarely encounter wild birds’ nests?
Leading a Discussion
This short command opens a window into God’s heart. He cares about how we treat the creatures that share our world. As you read the passage, notice the details: the chance encounter, the mother’s posture, the prohibition, and the promise. Then ask what this reveals about God’s character and what it invites from us.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the setting of this law, it happens “on the way,” not on a hunt?
- Why do you think God commands that the mother be let go? What does this protect?
- Compare this law with Leviticus 22:28 (prohibition on killing a cow and its young on the same day). What pattern do you see?
- In verse 7, the promise echoes the Fifth Commandment (honor parents). Why might that connection be made?
- Calvin says this law cultivates “study humanity.” How might small acts of kindness toward animals shape our character toward people?
- Some traditions apply this law as a general principle of conservation. Others see it as strictly about compassion. Which view do you find more compelling, and why?
- How could this passage influence the way you think about your daily choices, what you buy, how you waste, how you treat living things?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 8:17 | Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth.” |
| Genesis 32:11 | Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and strike me and the mothers with the children. |
| Leviticus 22:28 | Whether it is a cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and its young both in one day. |
| Proverbs 12:10 | A righteous man respects the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. |
| Hosea 10:14 | Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children. |
| Luke 12:6 | “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the command to build a battlement on the roof is intended to cultivate a spirit of humanity. Since flat roofs in Palestine were used for daily activities, the protective wall—about three feet high per rabbinic teaching—prevented accidental falls and deaths.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees the command as a lesson in basic humanity, not a mere food regulation. He argues that anyone with even a drop of compassion would never kill a bird so devoted to its young that it risks its own life. God gave this rule to train His people away from savagery and toward kindness.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes this law is not about ritual purity or general kindness to animals, since if it were, the whole brood would be spared. Instead, the added promise of long life links the command to the Fifth Commandment, suggesting reverence for motherhood is the real motive.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
If thou finde a birdes nest in the way, in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be yong or egges, and the damme sitting vpon the yong, or vpon the egges, thou shalt not take ye damme with the yong,
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws on rabbinic sources to clarify that this command applies only to clean birds and to nests not prepared by humans. The law forbids taking the dam with her young to prevent her grief and to preserve the species, teaching humanity and compassion. He connects this to Christ's teaching on God's care for birds.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown see both humanity and practical wisdom in the law. It prevents wanton destructiveness, but also protects the ecological balance: birds kept Palestine from being overrun by snakes, scorpions, and vermin, so leaving the mother preserved the species.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees Moses probing far deeper than a simple ban on theft. The eighth commandment demands active care for whatever belongs to a neighbor
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that God’s laws, unlike human laws, address even the smallest matters because God’s care and eye extend to every detail. He treats these seemingly minor statutes as significant because they come from God, including the command to keep male and female clothing distinct for the sake of chastity.