Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; New Living Translation Rather, you must seek the LORD your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes—the place where his name will be honored. English Standard Version But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go, Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible For rather, unto the place where YHWH your⁺ God chooses out of all your⁺ tribes to establish His Name as His dwelling, you⁺ shall seek and you shall go there. King James Bible 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: New King James Version “But you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go. New American Standard Bible But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and you shall come there. NASB 1995 “But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. NASB 1977 “But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God shall choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. Legacy Standard Bible But you shall seek Yahweh at the place which Yahweh your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. Amplified Bible But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to establish His Name there for His dwelling [place], and there you shall come [to worship Him]. Berean Annotated Bible Instead, you⁺ must seek the place the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} will choose from among all your⁺ tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. Christian Standard Bible Instead, turn to the place the LORD your God chooses from all your tribes to put his name for his dwelling and go there. Holman Christian Standard Bible Instead, you must turn to the place Yahweh your God chooses from all your tribes to put His name for His dwelling and go there. American Standard Version But unto the place which Jehovah 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; English Revised Version 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: GOD'S WORD® Translation The LORD your God will choose a place out of all your tribes to live and put his name. Go there and worship him. Good News Translation Out of the territory of all your tribes the LORD will choose the one place where the people are to come into his presence and worship him. International Standard Version Instead, you must seek to enter only the place that the LORD your God will choose among your tribes. There he will establish his name and live. NET Bible But you must seek only the place he chooses from all your tribes to establish his name as his place of residence, and you must go there. New Heart English Bible But to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, even to his habitation you shall seek, and there you shall come; Webster's Bible Translation But the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleInstead, 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. World English Bible But to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, you shall seek his habitation, and you shall come there. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionrather—that you seek after the place which your God YHWH chooses out of all your tribes to put His Name there, for His Dwelling Place, and you have entered there, Berean Literal Bible For rather, unto the place where YHWH your⁺ God chooses out of all your⁺ tribes to establish His Name as His dwelling, you⁺ shall seek and you shall go there. Young's Literal Translation but unto the place which Jehovah your God doth choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, to His tabernacle ye seek, and thou hast entered thither, Smith's Literal Translation But the place which Jehovah your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, to his dwelling shall ye seek, and there do thou come: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut you shall come to the place, which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, and to dwell in it: Catholic Public Domain Version Instead, you shall approach the place which the Lord your God will choose among all your tribes, so that he may set his name there, and may dwell in that place. New American Bible Instead, you shall seek out the place which the LORD, your God, chooses out of all your tribes and designates as his dwelling to put his name there. There you shall go, New Revised Standard Version But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there. You shall go there, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, his habitation shall you seek, and thither you shall go; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But in the place that LORD JEHOVAH your God had chosen from all your tribes to put his name there, be seeking out the house of his dwelling and going there: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But 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; Brenton Septuagint Translation But in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose in one of your cities to name his name there, and to be called upon, ye shall even seek him out and go thither. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context One Place for Worship…4You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way. 5Instead, 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. 6To 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.… Cross References Instead, you must seek the place Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Psalm 27:8 My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek. the LORD your God will choose Deuteronomy 16:2 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. Deuteronomy 14:23 And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. Deuteronomy 31:11 when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel. from among all your tribes 1 Kings 8:16 ‘Since the day I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house so that My Name would be there. But I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’ 1 Kings 11:13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” Psalm 78:68 But He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved. to establish as a dwelling for His Name, 1 Kings 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name. 2 Chronicles 7:16 For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time. 1 Kings 8:29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. and there you must go. Deuteronomy 26:2 you are to take some of the firstfruits of all your produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name, Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed. Psalm 122:1 A song of ascents. Of David. I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” 1 Kings 9:3 And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and petition before Me. I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My Name there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there for all time. Treasury of Scripture But to the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even to his habitation shall you seek, and thither you shall come: But unto Deuteronomy 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD: Deuteronomy 16:2 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. 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. habitation Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Numbers 7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him. Jump to Previous Choose Dwelling Entered Establish Habitation Hearts Marked Seek Tabernacle Thither Tribes TurnedJump to Next Choose Dwelling Entered Establish Habitation Hearts Marked Seek Tabernacle Thither Tribes TurnedDeuteronomy 12 1. Monuments of idolatry to be destroyed4. The place of God's service to be kept 15. Blood is forbidden 17. Holy things must be eaten in the holy place 19. The Levite is not to be forsaken 20. Blood is again forbidden 26. and holy things must be eaten in the holy place 29. Idolatry is not to be enquired after Instead, you must seek the place This phrase emphasizes the active role of the Israelites in finding the designated place of worship. It contrasts with the previous practices of worshiping at various high places. The directive to "seek" implies intentionality and obedience to God's command, highlighting the importance of centralized worship. the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name and there you must go Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is establishing a central place of worship. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God, who are being instructed on how to worship properly. 3. The Place A specific location that God will choose for His Name to dwell, which later becomes Jerusalem. 4. Tribes of Israel The twelve tribes among whom God will choose the place for His Name. 5. Worship The act of reverence and adoration directed towards God, central to the Israelites' relationship with Him. Teaching Points Centrality of WorshipWorship should be centered on God’s chosen way and place, emphasizing obedience and reverence. God’s Sovereignty God chooses the place of worship, highlighting His authority and the importance of following His guidance. Unity in Worship A central place of worship fosters unity among believers, reminding us of the importance of gathering together. Spiritual Fulfillment While the Israelites had a physical location, Christians are called to worship in spirit and truth, recognizing Jesus as the ultimate dwelling of God. Obedience and Blessing Obedience to God’s commands regarding worship leads to blessing and a deeper relationship with Him. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 12:5?2. What does Deuteronomy 12:5 teach about seeking "the place the LORD will choose"? 3. How can we apply the principle of centralized worship in our lives today? 4. Why is it important to "go there" to worship, as stated in Deuteronomy 12:5? 5. How does Deuteronomy 12:5 connect with New Testament teachings on worship? 6. What steps can you take to ensure your worship aligns with God's chosen way? 7. What does Deuteronomy 12:5 reveal about God's chosen place for worship? 8. How does Deuteronomy 12:5 influence the understanding of centralized worship in ancient Israel? 9. Why is the concept of a chosen place significant in Deuteronomy 12:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 12? 11. In Deuteronomy 12:5, why does the text insist on a single worship location when Israel’s central sanctuary seems to have varied or been established later in Jerusalem? 12. How do we reconcile the building of a separate altar in Joshua 22:10 with earlier commands to worship at one central sanctuary? 13. How does David’s statement about being driven from the Lord’s inheritance align with the belief that God’s domain extends beyond any single land? (1 Samuel 26:19) 14. How does Joshua 22 align with other passages that mandate a single place of worship (e.g., Deuteronomy 12), and why is there no mention of God’s direct intervention here? What Does Deuteronomy 12:5 Mean InsteadMoses contrasts the pagan practice of worshiping wherever one pleases (Deuteronomy 12:2–4) with God’s directive to abandon those sites. The call is to replace human preference with divine instruction, just as Joshua later rejected Canaanite altars (Joshua 24:23). you must seek Worship involves intentional pursuit, not casual convenience. • Psalm 27:8 shows David actively seeking God’s face. • In Matthew 6:33 Jesus echoes the same heartbeat: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” God is not hidden, but He is sought by hearts willing to obey. the place Worship is tied to location because holiness invades geography. Early on, Israel gathered at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1), later at Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7; 1 Kings 8:29). God, who fills heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:24), nonetheless appoints specific earthly venues for His people’s good order and unity. the LORD your God will choose Choice rests with the Sovereign, not the worshiper. • Exodus 19:5 reminds Israel they are His treasured possession chosen by Him. • John 4:21 anticipates the ultimate fulfillment when true worship is no longer confined to mountains or temples but is still defined by God’s revelation, not human selection. from among all your tribes No tribe is left out; the chosen site unites the nation. • Psalm 122:3 describes Jerusalem as “a city knit together.” • Acts 2 portrays peoples from every nation gathering at one place, foreshadowing the church’s unity around Christ. to establish as a dwelling for His Name God attaches His reputation to a dwelling. • Exodus 25:8, “Make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them.” • 1 Kings 8:13 records Solomon’s temple fulfilling this verse. In the New Covenant, believers become that dwelling (1 Corinthians 3:16), yet the principle of God’s name marking out a holy people remains unchanged. and there you must go Obedience is practical: feet must travel. • Deuteronomy 16:16 requires Israel’s males to appear before the LORD at the appointed place three times a year. • Hebrews 10:25 urges believers not to neglect gathering together. Meeting where God directs safeguards purity and fosters fellowship. summary Deuteronomy 12:5 calls God’s people to intentional, unified, and obedient worship at the location He designates, so His name may dwell among them and draw them together in holiness. (5) But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes.--The very form of the order proves its antiquity. No one who was acquainted with the removal of that "place" from Shiloh to Nob, from Nob to Gibeon, from Gibeon to Jerusalem, could have written with such utter unconsciousness of later history as these words imply. It is noticeable that in the reading of this precept in the times of our Lord, the Jews seem to have arrived at the came state of unconsciousness. They could not conseive of the presence or worship of Jehovah anywhere but at Jerusalem. (See on this topic St. Stephen's speech in Acts 7, and the incidental proofs it contains of God's presence with Israel in many places, in reply to the accusation made against Stephen of preaching the destruction of the one idolized seat of worship at Jerusalem.)Hebrew Instead,כִּ֠י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction you must seek תִדְרְשׁ֖וּ (ṯiḏ·rə·šū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship the place הַמָּק֞וֹם (ham·mā·qō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition the LORD יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative will choose יִבְחַ֨ר (yiḇ·ḥar) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 977: To try, select from among all מִכָּל־ (mik·kāl) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every your tribes שִׁבְטֵיכֶ֔ם (šiḇ·ṭê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 7626: Rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe to establish לָשׂ֥וּם (lā·śūm) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set as a dwelling לְשִׁכְנ֥וֹ (lə·šiḵ·nōw) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7933: A residence for His Name, שְׁמ֖וֹ (šə·mōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 8034: A name and there שָֽׁמָּה׃ (šām·māh) Adverb | third person feminine singular Strong's 8033: There, then, thither you must go. וּבָ֥אתָ (ū·ḇā·ṯā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go Links Deuteronomy 12:5 NIVDeuteronomy 12:5 NLT Deuteronomy 12:5 ESV Deuteronomy 12:5 NASB Deuteronomy 12:5 KJV Deuteronomy 12:5 BibleApps.com Deuteronomy 12:5 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 12:5 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 12:5 French Bible Deuteronomy 12:5 Catholic Bible OT Law: Deuteronomy 12:5 But to the place which Yahweh your (Deut. 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