Deuteronomy 16 7

Deuteronomy 16:7 kjv

And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

Deuteronomy 16:7 nkjv

And you shall roast and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses, and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents.

Deuteronomy 16:7 niv

Roast it and eat it at the place the LORD your God will choose. Then in the morning return to your tents.

Deuteronomy 16:7 esv

And you shall cook it and eat it at the place that the LORD your God will choose. And in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents.

Deuteronomy 16:7 nlt

Roast the lamb and eat it in the place the LORD your God chooses. Then you may go back to your tents the next morning.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 7 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:7 outlines specific instructions for observing the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It mandates that the Passover sacrifice, after being prepared, must be eaten communally in the divinely chosen location for worship. Crucially, the verse specifies a departure: pilgrims are to return to their homes on the following morning. This emphasizes both the sacred centrality of God's dwelling place and the temporary nature of the pilgrimage, differentiating sacred time and space from daily life.

Deuteronomy 16 7 Context

Deuteronomy 16:7 is embedded within the broader legislative framework of Deuteronomy 16, which outlines the regulations for Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals: Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (vv. 1-8), the Feast of Weeks (vv. 9-12), and the Feast of Booths (vv. 13-15). The entire chapter emphasizes a centralized form of worship at "the place the Lord your God chooses," a recurring Deuteronomic theme that underscores unity, purity of worship, and the prevention of syncretism. This verse specifically relates to the celebration of Passover, distinguishing it from its hurried origins in Egypt and transforming it into a structured, communal feast of joy at a designated sanctuary. Historically, this directive anticipated a settled life in Canaan where a central sanctuary (like Shiloh, and later Jerusalem) would be established, a contrast to the nomadic "tents" of their immediate past.

Deuteronomy 16 7 Word analysis

• And you shall cook (וּבִשַּׁלְתָּ - ūḇiššaltā): The Hebrew verb "bashal" (בשל) generally means to boil or cook. This instruction notably differs from Exodus 12:8-9, which specified that the Passover lamb should be "roasted by fire." The shift from "roasted" to "cook" implies a change in circumstance from the hurried, emergency departure from Egypt to a more relaxed, celebratory feast in a settled land. It suggests preparing the meat in a communal, perhaps stewed or boiled, fashion for broader sharing, characteristic of peace offerings where portions were shared by worshippers and priests. This relaxed cooking method points to joy and celebration, not fear or haste.

• and eat it (וְאָכַלְתָּ - wə’āḵaltā): This verb emphasizes the consumption and communion aspect of the offering. The act of eating the sacrifice binds the participant to the deity and the community. It's not merely an offering burnt on an altar, but a shared meal.

• in the place (בַּמָּקוֹם - bammāqōm): Refers to the specific, consecrated location for Israelite worship, central to Deuteronomic theology. This divine election of a single cultic center (which would ultimately be Jerusalem) ensured doctrinal unity, controlled against pagan influence, and established order. It stands against decentralized worship at "every high hill and under every green tree" (Deut 12:2), which often led to idolatry.

• the Lord your God chooses (אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - ’ăšer yiḇḥar YHWH ’ělōheḵā): This phrase is a hallmark of Deuteronomy, appearing numerous times (e.g., Deut 12:5, 11, 14, 21, 26). It highlights God's sovereignty in establishing His presence among His people and dictates the sole legitimate place for national worship, thus preventing syncretism or rival cults. It also asserts God's immanence—His choice to "put His Name there."

• and in the morning (וּפָנִיתָ - ūp̄ānīṯā): Refers to the time of departure, signifying the end of the ritual segment of the pilgrimage. The clear timeline ensures that the festival, though sacred, remains temporary and does not evolve into a perpetual camp at the sanctuary, preventing the location from becoming an unregulated permanent dwelling or fostering non-prescribed cultic activities often found in pagan shrines.

• you shall turn and go (וְהָלָכְתָּ - wəhālāḵtā): This dual verb construction ("turn your face towards" and "go") signifies a definite, purposeful movement to depart. It's an active decision to leave the sacred precinct and resume normal life, rather than linger. It reinforces the cyclical nature of worship and daily living.

• to your tents (לְאֹהָלֶיךָ - lə’ōhāleḵā): "Tents" here functions as a synecdoche for "your dwellings" or "your homes," even though by this point, Israel would anticipate settling in houses. It carries a strong resonance of Israel's nomadic past, emphasizing their return to the regularity of domestic life after the special communal worship at God's chosen place. It signifies the pilgrimage as a temporary journey, not a permanent relocation, affirming the structure of community life beyond the sanctuary.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And you shall cook and eat it in the place the Lord your God chooses": This phrase highlights the key actions of the festival – the preparation and communal consumption of the sacrifice – and establishes the exclusive, divinely appointed location for these sacred acts. This centralization prevents unauthorized altars and practices, ensuring the purity and unity of Israel's worship, shifting from a rapid meal to a communal feast of gratitude and joy before God.
  • "and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents": This segment outlines the mandatory return to regular life following the festival. It enforces the temporary nature of the pilgrimage and the sacred site visit, preventing any overstaying that might lead to cultic abuses, idol worship, or social disruption. It defines a boundary between sacred time/space and everyday life, emphasizing that faith lived out daily extends beyond moments of pilgrimage.

Deuteronomy 16 7 Bonus section

The phrase "to your tents" (אֹהָלֶיךָ - ’ohalekha) carried a historical resonance of Israel's desert wanderings. Even as they prepared to enter a settled life in Canaan where they would live in houses, Moses retained this language, possibly as a reminder of their nomadic heritage and dependence on God. This serves as a poetic emphasis on their temporary status as sojourners in God's land (Lev 25:23), continually reminding them of their pilgrimage through life. Furthermore, this instruction regarding departure after the feast prevented the establishment of permanent 'holy men' who would linger at the sanctuary year-round, distinct from the designated priests. It encouraged the regular Israelites to participate, return to their families, and integrate their spiritual experience into the fabric of their domestic lives. This also ensures that the holy days remained distinct and not blurred into a continuous 'festival' time, highlighting the special nature of the occasion.

Deuteronomy 16 7 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:7 masterfully weaves together ritual instruction, theological principle, and practical living. The command to "cook and eat" in God's "chosen place" signifies a transformation of the Passover from an urgent, somber, "roasted" meal of escape into a communal, joyful, and "cooked" feast of communion and celebration. This centralization of worship was a bulwark against the decentralized, often idolatrous, cultic practices of surrounding nations, establishing a unified Israel under one God in one primary sanctuary. The directive to "return to your tents" the following morning reinforces the temporary nature of religious pilgrimage. It teaches that while periods of intense, focused worship are vital, they are not to be permanent states of being. Rather, the encounter with God in the sanctuary is meant to invigorate and prepare the people for their faithful walk in everyday life within their homes and communities. It prevents excessive attachment to a physical place over spiritual commitment and underscores that life lived in obedience to God permeates all aspects, not just ritual moments. For instance, the joy experienced at the central sanctuary was meant to carry back into their "tents," informing their daily lives.