Deuteronomy 12 21

Deuteronomy 12:21 kjv

If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

Deuteronomy 12:21 nkjv

If the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter from your herd and from your flock which the LORD has given you, just as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your gates as much as your heart desires.

Deuteronomy 12:21 niv

If the place where the LORD your God chooses to put his Name is too far away from you, you may slaughter animals from the herds and flocks the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you, and in your own towns you may eat as much of them as you want.

Deuteronomy 12:21 esv

If the place that the LORD your God will choose to put his name there is too far from you, then you may kill any of your herd or your flock, which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you, and you may eat within your towns whenever you desire.

Deuteronomy 12:21 nlt

It might happen that the designated place of worship ? the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored ? is a long way from your home. If so, you may butcher any of the cattle, sheep, or goats the LORD has given you, and you may freely eat the meat in your hometown, as I have commanded you.

Deuteronomy 12 verses

Deuteronomy 12 21 Meaning

Deuteronomy 12:21 provides practical guidelines for Israelite families residing far from the central sanctuary. It grants permission to slaughter and consume animals for common sustenance within their local towns, differentiating this act from sacrificial offerings which must only occur at the chosen place where the Lord establishes His presence. This allowance caters to the daily needs of the people, emphasizing God's provision for their physical well-being, provided they adhere to the fundamental regulation against consuming blood, as previously commanded.

Deuteronomy 12 21 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 12 focuses on establishing the core principle of worship in the Promised Land: centralization. Israel was commanded to destroy all pagan places of worship upon entering Canaan and instead, worship only at one specific location chosen by God, "where the Lord your God chooses to put His name." This singular sanctuary was essential for maintaining Israel's distinctive monotheistic faith and preventing assimilation into the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations. Within this context, verses 15-28 make a critical distinction between ritual slaughter for sacrifice at the central sanctuary and ordinary slaughter of animals for food. Verse 21, therefore, serves as a practical concession to daily life, acknowledging that it would be impractical and burdensome for every household, especially those far away, to travel to the distant chosen place for every meal containing meat. It underscores God's wisdom in balancing religious commands with the realities of sustaining a nation.

Deuteronomy 12 21 Word analysis

• If the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you,

  • place: במקום (bamāqôm). Refers to a specific, unique geographic site designated by God for His centralized worship, which would eventually be Jerusalem.
  • the Lord your God: יהוה אלהיך (YHWH Elohêḵā). Emphasizes the personal and covenantal relationship with the Creator God. This covenant name (YHWH) asserts His supreme authority.
  • chooses: יבחר (yiḇḥar). Highlights divine sovereignty in selecting the location. This decision rests solely with God, contrasting with human arbitrary choices in pagan worship. It signifies His presence, not that He is confined there.
  • to put His name: לשום שמו (lāśûm šǝmô). Indicates where God reveals His character, presence, and authority. It's where His glory dwells and where people meet Him, not His literal containment. It's the place of divine encounter.
  • too far from you: ירחק ממך (yirḥaq mimmeḵā). Signifies geographical distance making travel impractical. This reveals God's practical concern and condescension towards His people's everyday challenges.

• then you may slaughter from your herd and from your flock which the Lord has given you, as I have commanded you,

  • slaughter: זבחת (zāḥaṭ). Here, refers to common slaughter for food. Crucially distinguished from ritual sacrificial slaughter (which had to be at the central sanctuary).
  • from your herd and from your flock: מבקרך ומצאנך (mibqārḵā ūmiṣṣō’neḵā). Specifies typical domestic animals (cattle and sheep) that provided primary meat sources.
  • which the Lord has given you: אשר נתן לך יהוה (’ǎšer nātan lǝḵā YHWH). Reaffirms God as the ultimate provider of all blessings, grounding all consumption in grateful recognition of His benevolence.
  • as I have commanded you: כאשר צויתיך (ka’ăšer ṣiwwîṯîḵā). This is a critical qualifying clause. It specifically refers to the non-negotiable instruction for common slaughter: the absolute prohibition against consuming the blood. This command is reiterated forcefully in verses 16, 23-25.

• and you may eat within your gates whatever your soul desires.

  • eat: ואכלת (wǝ’āḵalttā). Simple consumption for nourishment.
  • within your gates: בשעריך (biš’ārêḵā). An idiom for within one's own towns, localities, or dwellings. It means privately, in one's home community, not at the central sanctuary.
  • whatever your soul desires: בכל אות נפשך (bǝḵōl ’ōṯ nāp̄šeḵā). Signifies freedom and enjoyment in eating, not merely bare necessity. This reflects God's desire for His people to find contentment and pleasure in His abundant provision, within His defined boundaries.

Deuteronomy 12 21 Bonus section

• Distinction and Danger: The careful distinction between sacred sacrificial slaughter (זבח zevach) at the chosen site and secular common slaughter (also zevach here, but clearly delimited) locally was paramount. Failure to make this distinction could have led to illicit sacrifices to local Canaanite deities, undermining the entire covenant.
• Foreshadowing of Scope: While specific to Mosaic Law, this verse broadly points to God's gracious provision beyond mere ritual requirements. In a spiritual sense, it subtly prefigures a later covenant understanding where the daily acts of life, consumed "within our gates," can also be sanctified and enjoyed, rather than every interaction requiring a priestly intermediary, leading to broader Christian freedom concerning dietary laws (e.g., Mark 7:19).
• "Holy" vs. "Common": The verse implicitly illustrates the biblical concept of holy (קדוש - qadosh, set apart for God) versus common (חול - chol, everyday). Sacrifices were holy and ritual, while daily food was common but still enjoyed under God's blessing and adherence to moral precepts.

Deuteronomy 12 21 Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:21 is a gracious and practical provision within God's laws for Israel. It clarifies that while sacrifices were strictly confined to the one chosen sanctuary, the daily sustenance of meat could be enjoyed locally, recognizing the impracticality of constant travel to the distant holy site. This distinction was vital; it prevented common eating from being misinterpreted as sacrificial rites, thereby safeguarding Israel's unique monotheistic worship against assimilation to the widespread pagan practice of local, personalized sacrifices. The core condition, "as I have commanded you," emphasizes the crucial command regarding blood – that it must not be consumed because life is in the blood and it is sacred. Thus, the verse demonstrates divine wisdom: accommodating the practicalities of a dispersed population while vigorously upholding theological and ethical principles centered on the sanctity of life and the uniqueness of YHWH's worship. It allows for the enjoyment of God's blessings ("whatever your soul desires") within respectful boundaries, showcasing His care for both spiritual fidelity and mundane needs.