Deuteronomy 12:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.

Complete Jewish Bible:

However, you may slaughter and eat meat wherever you live and whenever you want, in keeping with the degree to which ADONAI your God has blessed you. The unclean and the clean may eat it, as if it were gazelle or deer.

Berean Standard Bible:

But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you. Both the ceremonially clean and unclean may eat it as they would a gazelle or deer,

American Standard Version:

Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh within all thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the gazelle, and as of the hart.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Notwithstanding thou mayest kill^{H2076} and eat^{H398} flesh^{H1320} in all thy gates^{H8179}, whatsoever thy soul^{H5315} lusteth after^{H185}, according to the blessing^{H1293} of the LORD^{H3068} thy God^{H430} which he hath given^{H5414} thee: the unclean^{H2931} and the clean^{H2889} may eat^{H398} thereof, as of the roebuck^{H6643}, and as of the hart^{H354}.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 12:15

1. Themes:
- Divine Permission: The verse emphasizes that the Israelites have the freedom to slaughter and consume meat according to their desires, reflecting the theme of divine permission and God's provision for His people.
- Dietary Laws: It touches on the distinction between clean and unclean animals, which is a recurring theme in the Pentateuch regarding dietary laws.
- Gratitude and Blessing: The consumption of meat is connected to the blessings of God, highlighting the theme of gratitude for divine favor and material provisions.

2. Historical Context:
- Deuteronomy is part of the Pentateuch, traditionally ascribed to Moses, and is presented as a series of speeches he gave to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land.
- The book is set during the time of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness, just before their transition into a more settled life in Canaan.
- This verse is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 12:1-32) that deals with the centralization of worship and the proper practices for offerings and sacrifices once the Israelites are in the land.
- Prior to this, the Israelites had strict limitations on slaughtering animals for food, as sacrifices were centralized at the Tabernacle. Deuteronomy 12:15 represents a shift, allowing for more flexibility in where and what they could eat, as long as it was in accordance with the dietary laws.
- This change would have been significant for the Israelites as they prepared to disperse throughout the land of Canaan, where the centralized system of worship would no longer be as practical.

In summary, Deuteronomy 12:15 reflects themes of divine provision, adherence to dietary laws, and gratitude for blessings, while historically it marks a transition in religious practice as the Israelites move from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle in the Promised Land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2076
   There are 127 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָבַח
   Transliteration: zâbach
   Pronunciation: zaw-bakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice); kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay.
   
2. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1320
   There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּשָׂר
   Transliteration: bâsâr
   Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
   Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8179
   There are 302 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שַׁעַר
   Transliteration: shaʻar
   Pronunciation: shah'-ar
   Description: from שָׁעַר in its original sense; an opening, i.e. door or gate; city, door, gate, port ([idiom] -er).
   
5. Strong's Number: H5315
   There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
   Transliteration: nephesh
   Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
   Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
   
6. Strong's Number: H185
   There are 60 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַוָּה
   Transliteration: ʼavvâh
   Pronunciation: av-vaw'
   Description: from אָוָה; longing; desire, lust after, pleasure.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1293
   There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּרָכָה
   Transliteration: Bᵉrâkâh
   Pronunciation: ber-aw-kaw'
   Description: from בָרַךְ; benediction; by implication prosperity; blessing, liberal, pool, present.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
9. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
    
11. Strong's Number: H2931
    There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טָמֵא
    Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
    Pronunciation: taw-may'
    Description: from טָמֵא; foul in a religious sense; defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean.
    
12. Strong's Number: H2889
    There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טָהוֹר
    Transliteration: ṭâhôwr
    Pronunciation: taw-hore'
    Description: or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness).
    
13. Strong's Number: H6643
    There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צְבִי
    Transliteration: tsᵉbîy
    Pronunciation: tseb-ee'
    Description: from צָבָה in the sense of prominence; splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful); beautiful(-ty), glorious (-ry), goodly, pleasant, roe(-buck).
    
14. Strong's Number: H354
    There are 731 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אַיָּל
    Transliteration: ʼayâl
    Pronunciation: ah-yawl'
    Description: an intensive form of אַיִל (in the sense of ram); a stag or male deer; hart.