Neville Goddard on Exodus 23:19

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard points to a specific statement in Exodus, "Steep not a kid in its mothers milk," as an example of widespread scriptural misunderstanding. He observes that for centuries, millions of people have taken this as a literal dietary restriction, specifically one that forbids consuming dairy products with meat. Neville identifies the root cause of this error as the tendency to read the Bible as a historical account rather than as a psychological guide.

Key Concepts

• The verse "Steep not a kid in its mothers milk" (Exodus 23:19) is widely misunderstood.
• The common misinterpretation is that it is a literal dietary law prohibiting the consumption of meat and dairy products together.
• This misunderstanding stems from the fundamental error of reading the Bible as history.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard uses the instruction from Exodus 23:19, "Steep not a kid in its mothers milk," to illustrate a profound and long-standing error in biblical interpretation. He notes that for centuries, unnumbered millions of people have taken this statement literally. This has led to the establishment of dietary customs, still practiced in modern times, that forbid the mixing of any dairy products with a meat dish.

The source of this misinterpretation, according to Neville, is the belief that the Bible is a book of history. By treating its statements as factual accounts of past events or literal commands for daily life, readers miss the deeper, psychological meaning. The provided source material focuses exclusively on identifying and explaining this common misunderstanding, but does not offer Neville's specific psychological interpretation of the verse itself.

Important Quotes

Steep not a kid in its mothers milk.

— Remain Faithful To Your Idea

Unnumbered millions of people, misunderstanding this statement, to this very day in the enlightened age of 1948, will not eat any dairy products with a meat dish.

— How To Manifest Your Desires

They think the Bible is history, and when it says, "Steep not a kid in its mother's milk," milk and the products of

— Remain Faithful To Your Idea

Related Concepts

The primary related concept is Neville's fundamental principle that the Bible is not literal history but a great psychological drama. The misunderstanding of this specific verse serves as a key example of the errors that arise when one's consciousness approaches scripture from a historical or literal perspective.

Common Misunderstandings

The central misunderstanding addressed in the source material is taking the verse literally. People believe it is a command regarding diet, specifically that one should not cook a young goat in its own mother's milk, which has been broadened into a general prohibition against mixing meat and dairy. Neville states this is an error caused by reading the Bible as history.

Practical Applications

The provided source material does not offer a direct practical application for this teaching, other than the implied instruction to stop reading the Bible as a book of literal history and instead seek its psychological meaning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Neville Goddard say Exodus 23:19 is misunderstood?

He states it is misunderstood as a literal dietary law that forbids eating dairy products with meat dishes.

What is the cause of this misunderstanding, according to Neville?

The cause is the mistaken belief that the Bible is a history book, which leads people to interpret its psychological instructions as literal commands.

Does Neville explain the true psychological meaning of 'Steep not a kid in its mothers milk' in these passages?

No, the provided source material only identifies and explains the common misinterpretation; it does not contain Neville's psychological explanation of the verse.