Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. New Living Translation “But you may not eat your offerings in your hometown—neither the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, nor the firstborn of your flocks and herds, nor any offering to fulfill a vow, nor your voluntary offerings, nor your sacred offerings. English Standard Version You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, or any of your vow offerings that you vow, or your freewill offerings or the contribution that you present, Berean Standard Bible Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Berean Literal Bible You must not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or your new wine, or your oil, or of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, or of any of your offerings that you vow, or of your freewill offerings, or of the contribution of your hand. King James Bible Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand: New King James Version You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand. New American Standard Bible You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, new wine, or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your vowed offerings which you vow, or your voluntary offerings, or the contribution of your hand. NASB 1995 “You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand. NASB 1977 “You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or new wine, or oil, or the first-born of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand. Legacy Standard Bible You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand. Amplified Bible You are forbidden to eat within your [city] gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand. Berean Annotated Bible Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Christian Standard Bible Within your city gates you may not eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, or fresh oil; the firstborn of your herd or flock; any of your vow offerings that you pledge; your freewill offerings; or your personal contributions. Holman Christian Standard Bible Within your gates you may not eat: the tenth of your grain, new wine, or oil; the firstborn of your herd or flock; any of your vow offerings that you pledge; your freewill offerings; or your personal contributions. American Standard Version Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy grain, or of thy new wine, or of thine oil, or the firstlings of thy herd or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill-offerings, nor the heave-offering of thy hand; English Revised Version Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thine oil, or the firstlings of thy herd or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, nor the heave offering of thine hand: GOD'S WORD® Translation You may not eat [the LORD's offerings] in your cities. Those offerings are: one-tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil; the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, or goats; the offerings you vow to bring; your freewill offerings; and your contributions. Good News Translation Nothing that you offer to the LORD is to be eaten in the places where you live: neither the tithes of your grain, your wine, or your olive oil, nor the first-born of your cattle and sheep, the gifts that you promise to the LORD, your freewill offerings, or any other offerings. International Standard Version "You won't be allowed to eat your tithe of grain, new wine, oil, the firstborn of your herd and flock, your voluntary offerings that you pledged, your free-will offerings, and the works of your hands in your own cities. NET Bible You will not be allowed to eat in your villages your tithe of grain, new wine, olive oil, the firstborn of your herd and flock, any votive offerings you have vowed, or your freewill and personal offerings. New Heart English Bible You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your freewill offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand; Webster's Bible Translation Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy free-will-offerings, or heave-offering of thy hand: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWithin your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. World English Bible You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your free will offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand; Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionyou are not able to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, and of your new wine, and your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock, and any of your vows which you vow, and your free-will offerings, and a raised-offering of your hand; Berean Literal Bible You must not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or your new wine, or your oil, or of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, or of any of your offerings that you vow, or of your freewill offerings, or of the contribution of your hand. Young's Literal Translation thou art not able to eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, and of thy new wine, and thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock, and any of thy vows which thou vowest, and thy free-will offerings, and heave-offering of thy hand; Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not be able to eat in thy gates the tenth of thy grain, and thy new wine and thy new oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and thy flocks, and all the vows which thou shalt vow, and thy voluntaries, and the offerings of thy hand: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou mayst not eat in thy towns the tithes of thy corn, and thy wine, and thy oil, the firstborn of thy herds and thy cattle, nor any thing that thou vowest, and that thou wilt offer voluntarily, and the firstfruits of thy hands: Catholic Public Domain Version You may not eat in your towns the tithes of your crops, and your wine and oil, the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, nor anything which you will vow, or which you will offer spontaneously, nor the first-fruits of your hands. New American Bible Moreover, you may not, in your own communities, partake of your tithe of grain or wine or oil, of the firstborn of your herd or flock, of any offering you have vowed, of your voluntary offerings, or of your personal contributions. New Revised Standard Version Nor may you eat within your towns the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, the firstlings of your herds and your flocks, any of your votive gifts that you vow, your freewill offerings, or your donations; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIt is unlawful to eat within your towns the tithes of your grain, or of your wine, or of your oil, or the firstlings of your herds, or of your flock, or any of things which you vow, nor your freewill offerings, nor gift offerings of your hands; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated You will not be authorized in your cities to eat the tithes of your grain, or of your wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your oxen, or of your flocks, or all your vows that you will vow, or your offerings, or the dedications of your hands: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thine oil, or the firstlings of thy herd or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill-offerings, nor the offering of thy hand; Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou shalt not be able to eat in thy cities the tithe of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thine herd and of thy flock, and all your vows as many as ye shall have vowed, and your thank-offerings, and the first-fruits of thine hands. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context One Place for Worship…16but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water. 17Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. 18Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates. Rejoice before the LORD your God in all you do,… Cross References Within your gates Deuteronomy 14:28 At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and lay it up within your gates. Deuteronomy 26:12 When you have finished laying aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you are to give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat and be filled within your gates. Exodus 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, Deuteronomy 14:23 And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. Numbers 18:21-24 Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting. / No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. / The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites. … Leviticus 27:30-33 Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. / If a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value. / Every tenth animal from the herd or flock that passes under the shepherd’s rod will be holy to the LORD. … the firstborn of your herds or flocks, Deuteronomy 15:19-23 You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock. / Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. / But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God. … Exodus 13:2 “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.” Numbers 18:15-18 The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. / You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs. / But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. … any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, Numbers 15:3-8 and you present a food offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to produce a pleasing aroma to the LORD—either a burnt offering or a sacrifice, for a special vow or freewill offering or appointed feast— / then the one presenting his offering to the LORD shall also present a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter hin of olive oil. / With the burnt offering or sacrifice of each lamb, you are to prepare a quarter hin of wine as a drink offering. … Leviticus 7:16-18 If, however, the sacrifice he offers is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, but the remainder may be eaten on the next day. / But any meat of the sacrifice remaining until the third day must be burned up. / If any of the meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who presented it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall bear his iniquity. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth. or your freewill offerings Leviticus 22:18-23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the Israelites and tell them, ‘Any man of the house of Israel or any foreign resident who presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, whether to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, / must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf. / You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. … Numbers 29:39 You are to present these offerings to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings.” Deuteronomy 16:10-11 And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the LORD your God has blessed you, / and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widows among you. or special gifts. Numbers 18:8-19 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute. / A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. / You are to eat it as a most holy offering, and every male may eat it. You shall regard it as holy. … Treasury of Scripture You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your corn, or of your wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herds or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your freewill offerings, or heave offering of your hand: the tithe Deuteronomy 12:6,11 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: … Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year… Deuteronomy 26:12,14 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; … Jump to Previous Contribution Corn Eat Hand Heave Heave-Offering Herd Herds Mayest New Offering Offerings Oil Present Tithe Towns Votive Vow Vowest Vows Wave Wine WithinJump to Next Contribution Corn Eat Hand Heave Heave-Offering Herd Herds Mayest New Offering Offerings Oil Present Tithe Towns Votive Vow Vowest Vows Wave Wine WithinDeuteronomy 12 1. Monuments of idolatry to be destroyed4. The place of God's service to be kept 15. Blood is forbidden 17. Holy things must be eaten in the holy place 19. The Levite is not to be forsaken 20. Blood is again forbidden 26. and holy things must be eaten in the holy place 29. Idolatry is not to be enquired after Within your gates This phrase refers to the private residences or towns of the Israelites. The instruction emphasizes that certain religious practices and consumption of offerings were not to be done in their own homes or localities but in a designated place of worship. This reflects the centralization of worship in the place God would choose, which was later established as Jerusalem. It underscores the importance of communal worship and the unity of the nation in their religious practices. you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil the firstborn of your herds or flocks any of the offerings that you have vowed to give or your freewill offerings or special gifts Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws to the Israelites. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God, receiving instructions on how to live in the Promised Land. 3. Promised Land The land of Canaan, where the Israelites are to settle and follow God's commandments. 4. Tithes and Offerings Specific portions of produce and livestock dedicated to God, signifying obedience and worship. 5. Gates Symbolic of the cities or towns where the Israelites lived, representing their local communities. Teaching Points Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites were instructed to follow specific guidelines for tithes and offerings, demonstrating their obedience and reverence for God. Centralized Worship The command to not consume tithes within their gates emphasizes the importance of centralized worship and community in the life of the Israelites. Holiness and Dedication Tithes and offerings were set apart for God, symbolizing the holiness and dedication required in the worship of the Lord. Generosity and Provision The practice of giving tithes and offerings reflects a heart of generosity and trust in God's provision. Spiritual Discipline Regular tithing and offering cultivate spiritual discipline and remind believers of their dependence on God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 12:17?2. How does Deuteronomy 12:17 guide us in honoring God's designated sacred places? 3. What does Deuteronomy 12:17 teach about the importance of communal worship? 4. How can we apply the principle of designated offerings in our church today? 5. What connections exist between Deuteronomy 12:17 and New Testament teachings on offerings? 6. How does Deuteronomy 12:17 emphasize obedience in worship practices? 7. What is the significance of not eating tithes in Deuteronomy 12:17? 8. How does Deuteronomy 12:17 reflect God's instructions on worship practices? 9. Why are firstborn animals mentioned in Deuteronomy 12:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 12? 11. What is the meaning of Biblical numerology? 12. Why does Numbers 18:15–19 differ in certain details from parallel instructions in Deuteronomy regarding firstborn offerings, and how can these discrepancies be reconciled? 13. In Joshua 14:3-4, how does the Levites' lack of a territorial inheritance align with other biblical passages that mention Levitical cities and lands? 14. Why does Jacob appear to 'bargain' with God, seemingly contradicting other passages that discourage testing God (Genesis 28:20-22)? What Does Deuteronomy 12:17 Mean Within your gates you must not eatMoses reminds Israel that certain sacred portions may not be consumed casually at home. “Within your gates” refers to everyday life inside one’s own towns (cf. Deuteronomy 12:5–7, 12). God is teaching His people to keep a clear boundary between ordinary meals and acts of worship that must occur at “the place the LORD your God will choose.” This protects reverence, much as Leviticus 17:3–4 required sacrifices to be brought to the tabernacle rather than slaughtered in the backyard. the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil Tithes—one-tenth of field produce—belong wholly to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30; Deuteronomy 14:22-23). • They sustain the Levites who have no farmland (Numbers 18:21). • They finance celebratory worship meals in God’s presence (Deuteronomy 14:24-26). Eating them at home would deny both purposes. By bringing the tithe to the sanctuary, Israel affirms that every harvest is the Lord’s gift and that fellowship with Him takes priority over personal convenience. the firstborn of your herds or flocks Every firstborn male animal is consecrated to God (Exodus 13:11-15). • Unblemished firstborn of cattle, sheep, and goats are sacrificed and their meat shared by priests (Numbers 18:15-18). • Firstborn donkeys are redeemed with a lamb, emphasizing that even work animals ultimately belong to the Lord. Keeping these animals for backyard barbecues would rob God of His rightful portion and blur the picture that He claims the first and best. any of the offerings that you have vowed to give A vow offering flows from a personal promise (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). Once pledged, it becomes God’s property. • Bringing it to the sanctuary demonstrates integrity—Israel keeps its word before God and witnesses (Psalm 66:13-15). • Consuming it privately would treat a sacred commitment as though it were never made, disrespecting both the promise and the Promiser. or your freewill offerings or special gifts Freewill offerings are spontaneous acts of gratitude (Leviticus 22:18-19). “Special gifts” (literally “heave offerings”) are raised up as contributions for priestly support (Numbers 18:11). • These gifts express love beyond obligation. • Presenting them at the central sanctuary ensures they bless the community and honor God visibly (Deuteronomy 16:10). Eating them at home would hide God’s glory and shortchange those He appointed to serve. summary Deuteronomy 12:17 protects the sacredness of worship by forbidding private consumption of what belongs to God. Tithes, firstborn animals, vowed gifts, freewill offerings, and special contributions must be brought to the chosen place so that: • the Lord receives public honor, • the Levites and needy are supplied, and • the people learn to put God first in every harvest, herd, and personal promise. The verse still calls believers to treat what is dedicated to the Lord as holy, giving Him the first and best rather than the leftovers of convenience. (17) The tithe.--This is understood by Jewish commentators of what is called "the second tithe." The disposal of it is more particularly specified in Deuteronomy 14:22-29. (See also on Deuteronomy 26:12, &c.)Verses 17-19. - (Cf. vers. 6, 7, 12.) Thou mayest not eat; literally, thou art not able to eat; i.e. there is a legal inability to this. So the verb to be able (יָכֹל) is frequently used (cf. Genesis 43; Numbers 9:6; Deuteronomy 16:5; Deuteronomy 17:15, etc.).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Within your gatesבִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יךָ (biš·‘ā·re·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate you must תוּכַ֞ל (ṯū·ḵal) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3201: To be able, have power not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no eat לֶאֱכֹ֣ל (le·’ĕ·ḵōl) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 398: To eat the tithe מַעְשַׂ֤ר (ma‘·śar) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4643: Tenth part, tithe of your grain דְּגָֽנְךָ֙ (də·ḡā·nə·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 1715: Corn, grain (of cereals) or new wine וְתִֽירֹשְׁךָ֣ (wə·ṯî·rō·šə·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 8492: Must, fresh grape-juice, fermented wine or oil, וְיִצְהָרֶ֔ךָ (wə·yiṣ·hā·re·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 3323: Oil, anointing the firstborn וּבְכֹרֹ֥ת (ū·ḇə·ḵō·rōṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1062: The firstling of man, beast, primogeniture of your herds בְּקָרְךָ֖ (bə·qā·rə·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 1241: Beef cattle, ox, a herd or flocks, וְצֹאנֶ֑ךָ (wə·ṣō·ne·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock any וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every of the offerings נְדָרֶ֙יךָ֙ (nə·ḏā·re·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5088: A promise, a thing promised that אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you have vowed to give, תִּדֹּ֔ר (tid·dōr) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5087: To promise or your freewill offerings וְנִדְבֹתֶ֖יךָ (wə·niḏ·ḇō·ṯe·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5071: Spontaneity, spontaneous, a spontaneous, abundant gift or special gifts. וּתְרוּמַ֥ת (ū·ṯə·rū·maṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8641: Contribution, offering (for sacred uses) Links Deuteronomy 12:17 NIVDeuteronomy 12:17 NLT Deuteronomy 12:17 ESV Deuteronomy 12:17 NASB Deuteronomy 12:17 KJV Deuteronomy 12:17 BibleApps.com Deuteronomy 12:17 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 12:17 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 12:17 French Bible Deuteronomy 12:17 Catholic Bible OT Law: Deuteronomy 12:17 You may not eat within your gates (Deut. 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