Deuteronomy 16:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.

Complete Jewish Bible:

You are to sacrifice the Pesach offering from flock and herd to ADONAI your God in the place where ADONAI will choose to have his name live.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

And thou shalt sacrifice the passover unto Jehovah thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Jehovah shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thou shalt therefore sacrifice{H2076} the passover{H6453} unto the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}, of the flock{H6629} and the herd{H1241}, in the place{H4725} which the LORD{H3068} shall choose{H977} to place{H7931} his name{H8034} there.

Cross-References (KJV):

Deuteronomy 12:5

  • ¶ 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:

Deuteronomy 12:26

  • Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:

Luke 22:8

  • And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

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 12:18

  • But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that [is] within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

Exodus 12:5

  • Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take [it] out from the sheep, or from the goats:

Exodus 12:7

  • And they shall take of the blood, and strike [it] on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 16:2

Deuteronomy 16:2 is part of the instructions given by Moses to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The historical context of this verse is the period of the Exodus, where the Israelites are transitioning from a nomadic life in the wilderness to a settled, agricultural life in Canaan.

Themes of this verse include:

1. **Observance of Religious Festivals**: The verse is a commandment regarding the observance of the Passover, one of the most significant festivals in the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

2. **Centralization of Worship**: The commandment specifies that the Passover sacrifice should be offered in a place chosen by God, which later became Jerusalem. This reflects a broader theme in Deuteronomy of centralizing worship to prevent idolatry and ensure religious unity.

3. **Sacrificial System**: The verse emphasizes the importance of the sacrificial system in ancient Israelite worship. Sacrifices were a key means of atonement, thanksgiving, and communion with God.

4. **Divine Authority**: The phrase "the place which the LORD shall choose" underscores the idea that God has authority over the religious and social life of the Israelites, including where and how worship should be conducted.

5. **Covenant Relationship**: The verse reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The Passover sacrifice is an act of obedience and a renewal of the commitment to the covenant stipulations.

6. **Inclusivity of the Community**: The instruction to sacrifice "of the flock and the herd" indicates that the celebration was inclusive of different economic statuses, as both sheep/goats (flock) and cattle (herd) were acceptable offerings, accommodating those who could not afford the more expensive cattle.

In summary, Deuteronomy 16:2 is a commandment that encapsulates the importance of religious observance, the centralization of worship, the sacrificial system, divine authority, covenant faithfulness, and communal inclusivity in the religious life of ancient Israel as they were about to enter the land of Canaan.

*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: H6453
    There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פֶּסַח
    Transliteration: peçach
    Pronunciation: peh'-sakh
    Description: from פָּסַח; a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim); passover (offering).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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).
  6. 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.
  7. Strong's Number: H4725
    There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָקוֹם
    Transliteration: mâqôwm
    Pronunciation: maw-kome'
    Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever).
  8. Strong's Number: H977
    There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּחַר
    Transliteration: bâchar
    Pronunciation: baw-khar'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select; acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.
  9. Strong's Number: H7931
    There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁכַן
    Transliteration: shâkan
    Pronunciation: shaw-kan'
    Description: a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to שָׁכַב through the idea of lodging; compare סִכְלוּת, שָׁכַם); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively); abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
  10. Strong's Number: H8034
    There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁם
    Transliteration: shêm
    Pronunciation: shame
    Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.