Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Each year you and your family are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose. New Living Translation Instead, you and your family must eat these animals in the presence of the LORD your God each year at the place he chooses. English Standard Version You shall eat it, you and your household, before the LORD your God year by year at the place that the LORD will choose. Berean Standard Bible Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. Berean Literal Bible Before the face of YHWH your God you shall eat it year by year in the place that YHWH chooses—You and your house. King James Bible Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. New King James Version You and your household shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD chooses. New American Standard Bible You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses. NASB 1995 “You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses. NASB 1977 “You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses. Legacy Standard Bible You and your household shall eat it every year before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh chooses. Amplified Bible You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place [for worship] which the LORD chooses. Berean Annotated Bible Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} in the place the LORD will choose. Christian Standard Bible Each year you and your family are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD chooses. Holman Christian Standard Bible Each year you and your family are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD chooses. American Standard Version Thou shalt eat it before Jehovah thy God year by year in the place which Jehovah shall choose, thou and thy household. Contemporary English Version Instead, each year you must take the first-born of these animals to the place where the LORD your God chooses to be worshiped. You and your family will sacrifice them to the LORD and then eat them as part of a sacred meal. English Revised Version Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. GOD'S WORD® Translation Every year you and your family must eat these animals in the presence of the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. Good News Translation Each year you and your family are to eat them in the LORD's presence at the one place of worship. International Standard Version Then in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your household must eat them every year at the place the LORD will choose. NET Bible You and your household must eat them annually before the LORD your God in the place he chooses. New Heart English Bible You shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, you and your household. Webster's Bible Translation Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleEach year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. World English Bible You shall eat it before Yahweh your God year by year in the place which Yahweh shall choose, you and your household. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionyou eat it before your God YHWH year by year, in the place which YHWH chooses, you and your house. Berean Literal Bible Before the face of YHWH your God you shall eat it year by year in the place that YHWH chooses—You and your house. Young's Literal Translation before Jehovah thy God thou dost eat it year by year, in the place which Jehovah doth choose, thou and thy house. Smith's Literal Translation Before Jehovah thy God thou shalt eat it year by year, in the place which Jehovah shall choose, thou, and thy house. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIn the sight of the Lord thy God shalt thou eat them every year, in the place that the Lord shall choose, thou and thy house. Catholic Public Domain Version In the sight of the Lord your God, you shall eat these, each year, in the place which the Lord will choose, you and your household. New American Bible In the presence of the LORD, your God, you shall eat them year after year, you and your household, in the place that the LORD will choose. New Revised Standard Version You shall eat it, you together with your household, in the presence of the LORD your God year by year at the place that the LORD will choose. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou shall eat a firstling before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, you and your household; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But eat it before LORD JEHOVAH your God from year to year in the place that LORD JEHOVAH has chosen, you and your household. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou shalt eat it before the Lord year by year in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou and thy house. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Firstborn Animals19You 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. 20Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose. 21But 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.… Cross References Each year Exodus 13:10 Therefore you shall keep this statute at the appointed time year after year. 1 Samuel 1:3 Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the LORD. Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed. you and your household Genesis 7:1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Joshua 24:15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.” are to eat it Deuteronomy 12:7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you. Exodus 12:8 They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Leviticus 7:15 The meat of the sacrifice of his peace offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day he offers it; none of it may be left until morning. before the LORD your God Deuteronomy 14:26 Then you may spend the money on anything you desire: cattle, sheep, wine, strong drink, or anything you wish. You are to feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice with your household. Deuteronomy 16:11 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. Deuteronomy 12:18 Instead, 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, in the place the LORD will choose. Deuteronomy 12:5 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. Deuteronomy 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD. Deuteronomy 16:2 You are to offer to the LORD your God the Passover sacrifice from the herd or flock in the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for His Name. Exodus 13:12 you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. Treasury of Scripture You shall eat it before the LORD your God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, you and your household. Deuteronomy 12:5-7,17 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: … Jump to Previous Choose Chooses Eat House Household Meal Presence SelectionJump to Next Choose Chooses Eat House Household Meal Presence SelectionDeuteronomy 15 1. The seventh year a year of release for the poor7. one must be generous in lending or giving 12. A Hebrew servant, except by choice, must be freed in the seventh year 19. All firstborn males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord. Each year This phrase indicates a recurring, annual event, emphasizing the regularity and importance of the practice. In the context of ancient Israel, annual feasts and sacrifices were central to religious life, serving as reminders of God's provision and covenant with His people. The yearly cycle of festivals, such as Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, structured the Israelites' worship and community life. you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites. 2. The Israelites The chosen people of God, receiving the laws and commandments as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, who provides the laws and chooses the place of worship. 4. The Place the LORD Will Choose Refers to the central place of worship, which would later be established in Jerusalem. 5. The Household The family unit, which plays a central role in the observance of God's commandments. Teaching Points The Importance of Community WorshipGod emphasizes the communal aspect of worship, highlighting the importance of gathering together as a family and community to honor Him. Obedience to God's Instructions The command to eat in the place God chooses teaches us the importance of obedience and reverence for God's specific instructions. Remembrance and Celebration The annual observance serves as a reminder of God's provision and faithfulness, encouraging us to regularly remember and celebrate His goodness. Centrality of God's Presence Worship is centered around God's presence, reminding us that our lives should be oriented towards Him and His chosen place of worship. Family as a Unit of Worship The inclusion of the household underscores the role of the family in spiritual practices, encouraging families to worship and grow in faith together. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 15:20?2. How does Deuteronomy 15:20 emphasize the importance of annual offerings to God? 3. What does "eat it each year" teach about consistent worship practices? 4. How can Deuteronomy 15:20 guide our understanding of sacrificial living today? 5. How does this verse connect with New Testament teachings on giving? 6. How can we apply the principle of annual offerings in our modern lives? 7. What is the significance of eating the tithe in Deuteronomy 15:20 annually before the Lord? 8. How does Deuteronomy 15:20 reflect the relationship between God and the Israelites? 9. Why is the location of eating the tithe important in Deuteronomy 15:20? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 15? 11. How does your home reflect your faith and values? 12. Deuteronomy 14:22-27 says tithes can be exchanged for money if travel is too far. Does this contradict other biblical teachings on tithing? 13. Deuteronomy 16:5-7: How do we reconcile sacrificing the Passover 'in the place the Lord chooses' with Exodus 12's instruction to kill the lamb at home? 14. How does sparing the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:15) align with instructions to destroy all Canaanite inhabitants (Deuteronomy 20:16-17)? What Does Deuteronomy 15:20 Mean Each year“Each year” (Deuteronomy 15:20) shows that God establishes a recurring, dependable rhythm. • The yearly cycle kept Israel mindful that every season of life belongs to Him (cf. Exodus 23:14–17, where the three annual feasts created a similar cadence). • By setting an annual appointment, the Lord ensured that gratitude would never become a once-in-a-lifetime event but a continual pattern, echoing the call in Psalm 145:2, “Every day I will bless You.” you and your household The command involves the entire family. • Worship was never meant to be a private pursuit; it engaged spouses, children, servants, and even guests (see Joshua 24:15, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”). • Bringing loved ones under the same act of obedience fostered unity and provided living lessons for the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). • This principle carries into the New Testament, where households such as Lydia’s and the Philippian jailer’s respond to the gospel together (Acts 16:15, 34). are to eat it The “it” refers to the firstborn male animals set apart in verse 19. Sharing that meat turned a sacrifice into a communal meal. • Eating what is holy underscores that God graciously invites His people to participate in what belongs to Him (Leviticus 7:15). • A meal signals fellowship; in Revelation 3:20 the Lord still “dines” with those who open the door to Him. • The act pointed ahead to the ultimate table fellowship Jesus established in the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26–29). before the LORD your God Everything happened “before” Him—literally in His presence. • The phrase reminds us that worship is first about God’s pleasure, not our convenience (Psalm 16:11, “in Your presence is fullness of joy”). • Being before the Lord also implied accountability; the Israelites could not merely go through external motions (1 Samuel 15:22). • Today, believers still live coram Deo—before the face of God—in every decision (Colossians 3:17). in the place the LORD will choose At the time of Moses, the specific site was future; God later identified it as Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 6:6). • Centralizing worship protected Israel from drifting into idolatry at local high places (Deuteronomy 12:5–7). • The chosen place foreshadowed Jesus, in whom all true worship now centers (John 4:21–24). • Believers assemble locally yet gather spiritually “to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God” (Hebrews 12:22). summary Deuteronomy 15:20 calls God’s people to a yearly, family-wide celebration that combines sacrifice, shared meals, and joyful presence in the Lord’s chosen place. The verse weaves gratitude, community, fellowship, and centrality of worship into one simple command, pointing forward to the fullness found in Christ and inviting us today to keep worship regular, communal, joyful, and centered on God’s appointed dwelling. (20) Thou shalt eat it before the Lord thy God year by year.--This connects the eating of the firstlings with the "second" tithe (Deuteronomy 14:23), There is some difficulty in understanding the exact relation between this precept and that which assigns the firstlings to the priests (Numbers 18:15) with the first tithe. The practical solution is to be sought in the practice of the Jews. One suggestion is (that of Rashi), that "thou shalt eat" in this place refers to the priest; another is, that the firstlings without blemish were for the priest; those that were not fit for sacrifice were for the household of the owner. But it is perfectly conceivable that there was a collection of firstlings at one time of the year for the first tithe, and these were given to the priests. At the time of the collection of the second tithe, there might, and generally would, be other firstlings born since, and these, with the second tithe, would be disposed of in the manner indicated in these verses. And this, upon the whole, seems the most probable explanation. If two tithes were a regular institution, they must have been regularly collected at fixed times. And there might easily be firstlings in both of them; in fact, there almost certainly would be. At any rate, no contradiction can be maintained as between laws which were both observed in practice by the Jews. It appears from the Talmud, that tithes and offerings might be presented, more or less, at any of the three great feasts. They would not all be presented at one time. The tithes and first-fruits in some cases were liable to be delayed. The rule was, that everything due for three years last past must be cleared out of the establishment, and paid over to the proper authorities at the Feast of the Passover in the fourth and eighth years reckoned by the Sabbatical system. (See Deuteronomy 26:12-13, for more on this head.)Hebrew Each yearשָׁנָ֣ה (šā·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8141: A year you אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh) Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you and your household וּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃ (ū·ḇê·ṯe·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 1004: A house are to eat it תֹאכֲלֶ֙נּוּ֙ (ṯō·ḵă·len·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat before לִפְנֵי֩ (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the LORD יְהוָ֨ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God אֱלֹהֶ֤יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative in the place בַּמָּק֖וֹם (bam·mā·qō·wm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition the LORD יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel will choose. יִבְחַ֣ר (yiḇ·ḥar) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 977: To try, select Links Deuteronomy 15:20 NIVDeuteronomy 15:20 NLT Deuteronomy 15:20 ESV Deuteronomy 15:20 NASB Deuteronomy 15:20 KJV Deuteronomy 15:20 BibleApps.com Deuteronomy 15:20 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 15:20 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 15:20 French Bible Deuteronomy 15:20 Catholic Bible OT Law: Deuteronomy 15:20 You shall eat it before Yahweh your (Deut. De Du) |
    |