Deuteronomy 12 5

Deuteronomy 12:5 kjv

But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

Deuteronomy 12:5 nkjv

"But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.

Deuteronomy 12:5 niv

But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;

Deuteronomy 12:5 esv

But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go,

Deuteronomy 12:5 nlt

Rather, you must seek the LORD your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes ? the place where his name will be honored.

Deuteronomy 12 verses

Deuteronomy 12 5 Meaning

Deuteronomy 12:5 commands the people of Israel to seek out and come to a specific, singular physical location that the Lord their God will sovereignly choose from among all their tribal territories. This place is designated by God Himself, not by human decision, as the site where He will cause His name to dwell and make His special presence known. This central sanctuary is where all legitimate worship, offerings, and festivals are to take place, emphasizing the singularity of God and His unique presence among His unified people, in stark contrast to the diverse and decentralized idolatrous worship practices of the Canaanites.

Deuteronomy 12 5 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 12 serves as a pivotal introduction to the legal codes for Israel once they enter the land of Canaan. Moses commands the Israelites to utterly destroy all places of pagan worship—high places, groves, and hills where Canaanites served their gods (v. 2-3). Immediately following this negative injunction, verse 5 issues the positive command for legitimate worship. It forbids adopting Canaanite worship methods or sites for YHWH (v. 4) and instead insists on a singular, divinely chosen sanctuary. Historically, Israel is poised to enter Canaan, and this command establishes a foundational principle for religious purity and national unity in their new homeland, countering the decentralised, polytheistic cults they would encounter. This principle later manifested in Shiloh and ultimately Jerusalem.

Deuteronomy 12 5 Word analysis

• But (אִם - ʾim): This particle here introduces a strong contrast. It functions as an emphatic "rather" or "instead." The contrast is with the prohibited decentralised and syncretistic worship forms implied by verses 2-4. Israel must not worship God like the Canaanites, but rather only at the specific place God chooses.
• you shall seek (תִדְרְשׁוּ - tidrĕšû): From the root דָּרַשׁ (dārash), meaning "to seek," "to inquire," "to search diligently." This is an active and intentional command. Israel is not merely to stumble upon it, but to earnestly search out God's designated location, reflecting a heart devoted to God's will.
• the place (מָקוֹם - māqôm): Refers to a singular, specific geographical location. The Hebrew implies a well-defined site, contrasting with the numerous scattered "high places" of pagan worship.
• that the Lord (יהוה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing that this command comes from the one true God who is in relationship with Israel.
• your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - ʾĕlōhêkem): Highlights the covenant relationship and responsibility of the people to obey the commands of their specific God.
• will choose (יִבְחַר - yiḇḥar): From the root בָּחַר (bachar), meaning "to choose," "to select." This is a crucial theological term. It emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and deliberate, unilateral decision in designating the location. The choice is His alone, removing any human agency in selecting sacred sites, thus safeguarding against human manipulation or adoption of pagan religious principles. This "choosing" is central to Deuteronomic theology concerning the sanctuary.
• out of all your tribes (מִכָּל שִׁבְטֵיכֶם - mikkōl šiḇṭêkem): Signifies that the chosen place will be one single location that serves all twelve tribes, fostering national unity and preventing tribal rivalries or localized cults.
• to put (לָשׂוּם - lāsûm): An infinitive of purpose, indicating why God will choose this place.
• his name (אֶת־שְׁמוֹ - ʾet-šĕmô): Theologically profound. It does not mean God is physically contained or confined by the building (He is omnipresent). Instead, God's "name" represents His character, presence, authority, and divine self-revelation. It signifies where He causes His presence to be uniquely manifested for worship, where He is invoked and glorified, and where He meets with His people according to His covenant. It implies His allowing His identity and power to be publicly acknowledged and encountered in that specific place.
• and make his habitation (לְשִׁכְנוֹ - lĕšiḵnô): From the root שָׁכַן (shākan), "to dwell" or "to settle down." This refers to God's special condescension to be present among His people in a designated place. While not limiting His omnipresence, it describes the specific manner and location of His unique covenantal presence (often associated with the Shekhinah glory). It indicates the spot where He makes Himself accessible to Israel.
• there (שָׁם - šām): An adverb reinforcing the specific location mentioned.
• there you shall go (שָׁמָּה תָּבוֹאוּ - šammāh tāḇōʾû): A direct command to physically travel and attend this place. It indicates an active pilgrimage, underscoring the communal responsibility and active participation required from every Israelite in national worship.

Words-group Analysis

• "But you shall seek the place": This immediately follows the command to destroy pagan altars and explicitly states the only legitimate way to worship the Lord. It mandates a positive action rooted in faith and obedience to divine instruction, setting the Israelites apart from the polytheistic practices they were leaving behind.
• "that the Lord your God will choose": This phrase underlines divine sovereignty. The sanctity of the place derives entirely from God's election, not from its inherent features, human design, or religious sentiment. This divine prerogative guarantees purity of worship and prevents unauthorized religious practices, distinguishing Israel's faith from the arbitrary choices of pagan cults.
• "to put his name and make his habitation there": These twin concepts define the purpose and unique nature of the central sanctuary. God's name signifies His revelation and authority, while His habitation speaks of His manifest presence. The chosen place is therefore not merely a ritualistic center but the divinely designated meeting point between a holy God and His covenant people. It is the place for proper atonement, communion, and national pilgrimage, symbolizing Israel's relationship with its transcendent God.

Deuteronomy 12 5 Bonus section

The concept of the "chosen place" evolved significantly through Israel's history. While Deut 12 anticipates a fixed site upon entry into the land, the Tabernacle was mobile for many years. Shiloh then served as a significant but temporary central sanctuary before its eventual destruction. Finally, King David's bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem and Solomon's construction of the Temple firmly established Jerusalem/Zion as the permanent "place which the LORD your God will choose." This progressive revelation highlights God's sovereignty in directing His people. Furthermore, the emphasis on God putting His Name there instead of Himself being contained signifies God's transcendence; He condescends to be known and worshipped in a particular way in a specific place, but He is not limited by it. This foundational command undergirded later prophetic critiques against "high places" and shaped the cultic reforms led by kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, emphasizing the imperative of centralized, purified worship.

Deuteronomy 12 5 Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:5 is foundational to Israelite religious practice and identity. It is the command for cultic centralization, establishing that all legitimate national worship—including sacrifices, tithes, and feasts—must be conducted at one divinely chosen site, chosen by YHWH Himself. This contrasts sharply with the polytheistic practices of Canaan, where each god had multiple altars, and local worship sites were ubiquitous. By insisting on a singular sanctuary, God ensures that worship remains pure, preventing syncretism with pagan beliefs and practices that thrive in localized, uncontrolled cults. It reinforces the singularity and uniqueness of the God of Israel (monotheism), fostering national unity as all tribes pilgrimage to one place for common worship. This chosen place, first embodied by the Tabernacle, later Shiloh, and definitively Jerusalem with its Temple, served as the spiritual and civic center, binding the people to their covenant Lord and his laws. This verse points forward to Christ, who ultimately fulfills the purpose of the Temple as the perfect meeting place between God and humanity (John 1:14; Col 2:9), and eventually the Church, as the dwelling place of God's Spirit in the New Testament era (Eph 2:21-22).