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Deuteronomy 12:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 12:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “When Jehovah thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul desireth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, after all the desire of thy soul.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

When Jehovah thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul desireth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, after all the desire of thy soul.
Deuteronomy 12:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17Thou 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;
18but thou shalt eat them before Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.
19Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest in thy land.
20When Jehovah thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul desireth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, after all the desire of thy soul.
21If the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to put his name there, be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which Jehovah hath given thee, as I have commanded thee; and thou mayest eat within thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul.
22Even as the gazelle and as the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat thereof: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof alike.
23Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou shalt not eat the life with the flesh.
← Deuteronomy 12:19Deuteronomy 12:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, etc.] Brought them into the land of Canaan, where they should have large and good pastures for the feeding of their cattle, which they had not in the wilderness, and so a greater increase of them: and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh; which they were shorts of, or ate but little of in the wilderness, lest their herds and their flocks should be consumed; but now having room to feed them, and an increase of them, they would give themselves a greater liberty of eating flesh: because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; would have a craving appetite unto it, having so long ate none, or very little: thou mayest eat flesh,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Enlarge thy border - Which will make it impossible to bring all the cattle thou usest to the tabernacle. Deuteronomy 12:21”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall: Ch1 4:10 as he hath: Deu 11:24, Deu 19:8; Gen 15:18-21, Gen 28:14; Exo 23:31, Exo 34:24 I will: Deu 12:15; Gen 31:30; Num 11:4, Num 11:20, Num 11:34; Sa2 13:39, Sa2 23:15; Psa 63:1, Psa 84:2, Psa 107:9; Psa 119:20, Psa 119:40, Psa 119:174; Co2 9:14; Phi 1:8, Phi 2:26 Deuteronomy 12:21”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“These rules were still to remain in force, even when God should extend the borders of the land in accordance with His promise. This extension relates partly to the gradual but complete extermination of the Canaanites ( Deu 7:22, comp. with Exo 23:27-33), and partly to the extension of the territory of the Israelites beyond the limits of Canaan Proper, in accordance with the divine promise in Gen 15:18. The words "as He hath spoken to thee" refer primarily to Exo 23:27-33. (On Deu 12:20, see Deu 12:15). \- In Deu 12:21, "if the place...be too far from thee," supplies the reason for the repeal of the law in Lev 17:3, which restricted all slaughtering to the place of the sanctuary. The words…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification