Deuteronomy 15:19-23

19 ¹"All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

20 ²You shall eat it, you and your household, before the LORD your God year by year at the place that the LORD will choose.

21 ³But if it has any blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

22 You shall eat it within your towns. ⁴The unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as though it were a gazelle or a deer.

23 ⁵Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.

Deuteronomy 15:19-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 15

This chapter treats of a release of debts every seventh year, to which a blessing is promised if attended to, De 15:1-6, which seventh year of release should not hinder lending to a poor man in distress, even though it was nigh at hand, De 15:7-11 and of letting servants go free, whether manservant or maidservant, at the end of six years' servitude, De 15:12-15 but if unwilling to go, and desirous of staying, must have his ear bored through with an awl, and serve to the year of jubilee, De 15:16-18 and of sanctifying and eating the firstlings of the herd and flock where the Lord directs, De 15:19-23.

Cross References

• 1. See Exodus 13:2
• 2. Deuteronomy 12:7; Deuteronomy 14:23, 26
• 3. See Leviticus 22:20
• 4. Deuteronomy 12:15
• 5. See Leviticus 3:17