Deuteronomy 12:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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:

Complete Jewish Bible:

You will bring there your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tenths [that you set aside for ADONAI], the offerings that you give, the offerings you have vowed, your voluntary offerings, and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep.

Berean Standard Bible:

To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

American Standard Version:

and thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thither ye shall bring{H935} your burnt offerings{H5930}, and your sacrifices{H2077}, and your tithes{H4643}, and heave offerings{H8641} of your hand{H3027}, and your vows{H5088}, and your freewill offerings{H5071}, and the firstlings{H1062} of your herds{H1241} and of your flocks{H6629}:

Cross-References (KJV):

Deuteronomy 15:19

  • ¶ All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.

Deuteronomy 15:20

  • Thou shalt eat [it] before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.

Deuteronomy 14:22

  • ¶ Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Deuteronomy 14:26

  • And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

Deuteronomy 12:17

  • 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:

Deuteronomy 26:2

  • That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put [it] in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.

Numbers 18:15

  • Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, [whether it be] of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 12:6

Deuteronomy 12:6 is part of the book of Deuteronomy, which is presented as a series of speeches by Moses to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The historical context of this verse is rooted in the establishment of a centralized place of worship for the Israelites, which is a significant departure from the various local sanctuaries and altars that were common in the region at the time.

Key themes in Deuteronomy 12:6 include:

1. **Centralization of Worship**: Moses instructs the Israelites to bring all their offerings to a single place that God will choose. This is a shift from the decentralized worship practices of the time and aims to unify the religious life of the Israelites.

2. **Cultic Observance**: The verse lists various types of offerings that are to be brought to the central sanctuary, including burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, heave offerings, vows, freewill offerings, and the firstlings of herds and flocks. These offerings are part of the religious duties and rituals prescribed by the Mosaic Law.

3. **Obedience to God's Command**: The detailed instructions about offerings underscore the importance of obedience to God's laws. The Israelites are expected to follow these guidelines as part of their covenant with God.

4. **Divine Providence**: The centralization of worship is also a way to ensure that the priests, Levites, and their families, who do not have a tribal inheritance, are provided for. The offerings brought to the central sanctuary support them, highlighting the theme of divine provision for those who serve God.

5. **Exclusive Worship of Yahweh**: By concentrating all forms of worship and sacrifice at one location, the Israelites are discouraged from engaging in the worship of other gods, which was prevalent in Canaan. This exclusivity reinforces the monotheistic faith of Israel.

In summary, Deuteronomy 12:6 reflects the themes of religious centralization, adherence to cultic practices, obedience to divine command, divine provision, and the exclusive worship of Yahweh, all set within the historical context of the Israelites' transition from a nomadic life in the wilderness to a settled life 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: H935
    There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בּוֹא
    Transliteration: bôwʼ
    Pronunciation: bo
    Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
  2. Strong's Number: H5930
    There are 262 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֹלָה
    Transliteration: ʻôlâh
    Pronunciation: o-law'
    Description: or עוֹלָה; feminine active participle of עָלָה; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke); ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also עֶוֶל.
  3. Strong's Number: H2077
    There are 153 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זֶבַח
    Transliteration: zebach
    Pronunciation: zeh'-bakh
    Description: from זָבַח; properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act); offer(-ing), sacrifice.
  4. Strong's Number: H4643
    There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַעֲשֵׂר
    Transliteration: maʻăsêr
    Pronunciation: mah-as-ayr'
    Description: or מַעֲשַׂר; and (in plural) feminine מַעַשְׂרָה; from עָשָׂר; a tenth; especially a tithe; tenth (part), tithe(-ing).
  5. Strong's Number: H8641
    There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תְּרוּמָה
    Transliteration: tᵉrûwmâh
    Pronunciation: ter-oo-maw'
    Description: or תְּרֻמָה; (Deuteronomy 12:11), from רוּם; a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute; gift, heave offering (shoulder), oblation, offered(-ing).
  6. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
  7. Strong's Number: H5088
    There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נֶדֶר
    Transliteration: neder
    Pronunciation: neh'-der
    Description: or נֵדֶר; from נָדַר; a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised; vow(-ed).
  8. Strong's Number: H5071
    There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נְדָבָה
    Transliteration: nᵉdâbâh
    Pronunciation: ned-aw-baw'
    Description: from נָדַב; properly (abstractly) spontaneity, or (adjectively) spontaneous; also (concretely) a spontaneous or (by inference, in plural) abundant gift; free(-will) offering, freely, plentiful, voluntary(-ily, offering), willing(-ly), offering).
  9. Strong's Number: H1062
    There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּכוֹרָה
    Transliteration: bᵉkôwrâh
    Pronunciation: bek-o-raw'
    Description: or (short) בְּכֹרָה; feminine of בְּכוֹר; the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture; birthright, firstborn(-ling).
  10. Strong's Number: H1241
    There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּקָר
    Transliteration: bâqâr
    Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
    Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox.
  11. Strong's Number: H6629
    There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צֹאן
    Transliteration: tsôʼn
    Pronunciation: tsone
    Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).