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Deuteronomy 15:20

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 15:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou shalt eat it before Jehovah thy God year by year in the place which Jehovah shall choose, thou and thy household.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou shalt eat it before Jehovah thy God year by year in the place which Jehovah shall choose, thou and thy household.
Deuteronomy 15:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maid-servant thou shalt do likewise.
18It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou lettest him go free from thee; for to the double of the hire of a hireling hath he served thee six years: and Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all that thou doest.
19All the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto Jehovah thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy herd, nor shear the firstling of thy flock.
20Thou shalt eat it before Jehovah thy God year by year in the place which Jehovah shall choose, thou and thy household.
21And if it have any blemish, [as if it be] lame or blind, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto Jehovah thy God.
22Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean [shall eat it] alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart.
23Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.
← Deuteronomy 15:19Deuteronomy 15:21 →
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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
“Thou shalt eat it before the Lord thy God, year by year, etc.] Which, if understood of male firstlings, as in connection with the preceding verse, only priests might eat of them, being devoted to the Lord; so Jarchi says, to the priest he speaks; but if this respects the Israelites in common, then they must be understood either of female firstlings or second firstlings, which the people voluntarily separated, and which they were not to eat in their own houses, but in the place which the Lord shall choose, which was the city of Jerusalem; (see <051205>Deuteronomy 12:5), thou and thy household; the household of the priest, as Aben Ezra interprets it; but if it designs the same as in…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Exodus 13:11 ff. The directions of the preceding legislation (see Numbers 18:15 ff) are here assumed, with the injunction added, that the animals thus set apart to God Deuteronomy 15:19 were not to be used by their owners for their earthly purposes. It is further allowed that firstborn animals which had a blemish should be regarded as exceptions, and instead of being given to God might be used as food Deuteronomy 15:21-22. The application of the firstborn of cattle is here directed as in Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:23 : they are to be consumed in the sacred Feasts at the sanctuary. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public…”
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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
“Year by year - Namely, in the solemn feasts which returned upon them every year. Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 16”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Deu 12:5-7, Deu 12:17 Deuteronomy 15:21”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 15 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification