Deuteronomy 16:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:

Complete Jewish Bible:

You may not sacrifice the Pesach offering in just any of the towns that ADONAI your God is giving you;

Berean Standard Bible:

You are not to sacrifice the Passover animal in any of the towns that the LORD your God is giving you.

American Standard Version:

Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thou mayest^{H3201} not sacrifice^{H2076} the passover^{H6453} within any^{H259} of thy gates^{H8179}, which the LORD^{H3068} thy God^{H430} giveth^{H5414} thee:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 16:5

Deuteronomy 16:5 is part of the instructions Moses gives to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The historical context is the period just before the Israelites cross the Jordan River, during the last days of Moses' leadership. The book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches where Moses reiterates the law, emphasizing the importance of obedience and loyalty to God, and details the covenant between God and Israel.

The theme of Deuteronomy 16:5 centers on the centralization of worship, particularly regarding the Passover sacrifice. The Passover was a significant commemoration of the Exodus, when the Israelites were spared from the plague that struck down the firstborn of Egypt. This verse instructs the Israelites that they are not to offer the Passover sacrifice wherever they live ("within any of thy gates"). Instead, they must bring the sacrifice to the central sanctuary, which at that time had not yet been established but would later become the Temple in Jerusalem.

This command was meant to unify the worship of the Israelites and to ensure that the sacred rituals were conducted according to God's specifications. It underscores the importance of a single, designated place of worship to maintain the purity of religious practice and to strengthen the national and religious identity of Israel. This requirement would also serve to prevent the proliferation of local shrines and the syncretism of Canaanite religious practices with those of the Israelites.

In summary, Deuteronomy 16:5 reflects the themes of centralized worship, religious unity, and obedience to God's commands within the historical context of the Israelites' imminent entry into Canaan and the establishment of their national life under God's covenant.

*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: H3201
   There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָכֹל
   Transliteration: yâkôl
   Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
   Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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).
   
4. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
5. 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).
   
6. 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.
   
7. 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.
   
8. 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.