Deuteronomy 12:14

you must offer them only in the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribal territories, and there you shall do all that I command you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses the Israelite community, commanding them to cease scattered sacrifices and concentrate all worship at a single, divinely appointed location.

The words — יִבְחַ֤ר (yiv.Char) translates literally as "he will choose," and מָק֞וֹם (ma.Kom) means "place." Together they establish that the worship site derives entirely from divine selection rather than human preference.

The thread — This directive echoes Deuteronomy 12:5, which commands seeking the chosen dwelling, and Deuteronomy 12:11, which promises that God will choose a place for His Name where all commanded offerings must be brought.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to abandon localized, self-directed worship and submit to a single, God-appointed center for obedience. It demands concrete compliance with a specific geographical and ritual restriction.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֣יkithat אִם־'im-except בַּמָּק֞וֹםba./ma.Komin the/ place אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which יִבְחַ֤רyiv.Charhe will choose יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh בְּאַחַ֣דbe./'a.Chadin/ one of שְׁבָטֶ֔יךָshe.va.Tei./khatribes/ your שָׁ֖םshamthere תַּעֲלֶ֣הta.'a.Lehyou will offer up עֹלֹתֶ֑יךָ'o.lo.Tei./khaburnt offerings/ your וְשָׁ֣םve./Shamand/ there תַּעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.Sehyou will do כֹּ֛לkolall אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherthat אָנֹכִ֖י'a.no.KhiI מְצַוֶּֽךָּ׃me.tza.Ve./ka[am] commanding/ you

King James Version

But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:5 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go.
Deuteronomy 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice offerings you vow to the LORD.
2 Corinthians 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Psalms 5:7 But I will enter Your house by the abundance of Your loving devotion; in reverence I will bow down toward Your holy temple.
Psalms 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; proclaim His deeds among the nations.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.