Deuteronomy 12:5-7

5 But you shall seek 1the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation[a] there. There you shall go,
6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, 2your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the 3firstborn of your herd and of your flock.
7 And 4there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and 5you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you.

Deuteronomy 12:5-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 12

In this chapter orders are given to destroy all altars, pillars, groves, and images, made for the worship of idols in the land of Canaan, De 12:1-3 and to bring all sacrifices and holy things unto the place which the Lord should choose for his habitation, and not do as they then did, not being come to their rest, De 12:4-14, flesh for their common food might be killed and eaten in their own houses, provided they did not eat the blood, but poured it out upon the earth, De 12:15-25, tithes, vows, and freewill offerings, were to be eaten in the holy place, De 12:17-19 and burnt offerings to be offered on the altar of the Lord and the blood of them to be poured out upon the altar, De 12:26-28, all which they were carefully to observe, De 12:29, and they are cautioned against idolatry, and inquiring after the manner of it, as practised by the old inhabitants of the land, and introducing their customs into the service of God, De 12:30-32.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Deuteronomy 16:2; Deuteronomy 26:2; 1 Kings 8:29; 2 Chronicles 7:12; [Joshua 18:1]
  • 2. Deuteronomy 14:22, 23; Deuteronomy 15:19, 20
  • 3. Deuteronomy 14:23
  • 4. Deuteronomy 14:23, 26; Deuteronomy 15:20
  • 5. Deuteronomy 14:26; Deuteronomy 16:11, 14, 15; Deuteronomy 26:11; Deuteronomy 27:7; Deuteronomy 28:8; Leviticus 23:40

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or name as its habitation
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.