Deuteronomy 12:22

22 Just 1as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. 2The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.

Deuteronomy 12:22 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:22

Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten
Which were not only clean creatures, as before observed, but were commonly and frequently eaten, there being plenty of them in those parts:

so thou shalt eat them;
their oxen and calves, their sheep and lambs, their goats and their kids:

the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike;
no difference being to be made on that account, with respect to common food; (See Gill on Deuteronomy 12:15) which all alike might partake of, notwithstanding any ceremonial uncleanness that any might be attended with.

Deuteronomy 12:22 In-Context

20 "When the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has promised you, and you say, 'I will eat meat,' because you crave meat, you may eat meat whenever you desire.
21 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.
22 Just as the gazelle or the deer is eaten, so you may eat of it. The unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.
23 Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.
24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth like water.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Deuteronomy 14:5; Deuteronomy 15:22
  • 2. Deuteronomy 14:5; Deuteronomy 15:22
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.