Deuteronomy 12:14
in Deuteronomy 12you must offer them only in the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribal territories, and there you shall do all that I command you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but in the place which Jehovah shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
KJV
But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
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This verse in Deuteronomy 12
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in just any place you see
on Deuteronomy 12:13-14
Verse 13 rules out “just any place you see”, since a man could pick a hill that suited him and call it holy. Verse 14 answers with “one of your tribal territories” and still declines to say which.
This site's exposition
in one of your tribal territories
Joshua 22 shows how seriously Israel took this verse. The tribes east of the Jordan built a large altar, and the rest of Israel gathered at Shiloh for war. Phinehas accepted their oath that it stood as a witness, with sacrifices offered at the altar of the LORD alone.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes,.... Which tribe is not named, nor what place in that tribe; See Gill on Deu 12:5, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings; on the altar of burnt offering there placed: and there shalt thou do all that I command thee; respecting sanctuary service, and particularly those things observed in Deu 12:6.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The place which the Lord shall choose - To prevent idolatry and bring about a perfect uniformity in the Divine worship, which at that time was essentially necessary; because every rite and ceremony had a determinate meaning, and pointed out the good things which were to come, therefore one place must be established where those rites and ceremonies should be carefully and punctually observed.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | except | H518 → | 1069 times |
| בַּמָּק֞וֹם | bamakom | in the place | H4725 → | 401 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִבְחַ֤ר | yivchar | he will choose | H977 → | 171 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בְּאַחַ֣ד | beachad | in one of | H259 → | 971 times |
| שְׁבָטֶ֔יךָ | shevateikha | tribes your | H7626 → | 190 times |
| שָׁ֖ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| תַּעֲלֶ֣ה | taaleh | you will offer up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ | ʾoloteikha | burnt offerings your | H5930 → | 287 times |
| וְשָׁ֣ם | vesham | and there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה | taaseh | you will do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| כֹּ֛ל | kol | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אָנֹכִ֖י | ʾanokhi | I | H595 → | 359 times |
| מְצַוֶּֽךָּ׃ | metzaveka | [am] commanding you | H6680 → | 494 times |
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אִם־except
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
בַּמָּק֞וֹםin the place
bamakomH4725 →401 times
אֲשֶׁר־which
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
יִבְחַ֤רhe will choose
yivcharH977 →171 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
בְּאַחַ֣דin one of
beachadH259 →971 times
שְׁבָטֶ֔יךָtribes your
shevateikhaH7626 →190 times
שָׁ֖םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
תַּעֲלֶ֣הyou will offer up
taalehH5927 →890 times
עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָburnt offerings your
ʾoloteikhaH5930 →287 times
וְשָׁ֣םand there
veshamH8033 →834 times
תַּעֲשֶׂ֔הyou will do
taasehH6213 →2628 times
כֹּ֛לall
kolH3605 →5413 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רthat
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
אָנֹכִ֖יI
ʾanokhiH595 →359 times
מְצַוֶּֽךָּ׃[am] commanding you
metzavekaH6680 →494 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
it leads to
- Psalms 107:21–22
Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men.
- Psalms 50:14
Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
- Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
- Psalms 145:1–21
I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.
- 1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Psalms 107:21–22
Through
2 Corinthians 5:19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
- Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
- 1 John 2:1–2
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
- Isaiah 43:25
Where this verse is studied
About Deuteronomy
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763).