Deuteronomy 16:3-8

3 "1You shall not eat leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste ), so that you may remember 2all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.
4 "For seven days no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory, and 3none of the flesh which you sacrifice on the evening of the first day shall remain overnight until morning.
5 "You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns which the LORD your God is giving you;
6 but 4at the place where * the LORD your God chooses to establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset *, at the time that you came out of Egypt.
7 "You shall 5cook and eat it in the place which the LORD your God chooses. In the morning you are to return * to your tents.
8 "Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and 6on the seventh day there shall be 7a solemn assembly to the LORD your God; you shall do no work on it.

Deuteronomy 16:3-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 16

This chapter treats of the three grand yearly festivals, of the feast of passover, when, where, and what was to be sacrificed, how to be dressed, and in what manner to be eaten, De 16:1-8, of the feast of pentecost, when to begin it, where and how it was to be observed, De 16:9-12, and of the feast of tabernacles, when, where, and how long it was to be kept, De 16:13-15, which three times in the year all the males were to appear before the Lord, and not empty, De 16:16,17, an order is given for the appointment of judges in the land, to execute judgment, De 16:18-20, and the chapter is closed with a caution against planting groves, and setting up images, De 16:21,22.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Ex 12:8, 15, 19, 39; Exodus 13:3; Exodus 34:18
  • 2. Deuteronomy 4:9
  • 3. Exodus 12:8, 10; Exodus 34:25
  • 4. Deuteronomy 12:5
  • 5. Exodus 12:8; 2 Chronicles 35:13
  • 6. Numbers 28:25
  • 7. Exodus 12:16; Exodus 13:6; Leviticus 23:8, 36

Footnotes 1

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.