Font Size
Deuteronomy 12:15-19
New International Version
Deuteronomy 12:15-19
New International Version
15 Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer,(A) according to the blessing the Lord your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. 16 But you must not eat the blood;(B) pour(C) it out on the ground like water.(D) 17 You must not eat in your own towns the tithe(E) of your grain and new wine and olive oil,(F) or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give,(G) or your freewill offerings or special gifts.(H) 18 Instead, you are to eat(I) them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose(J)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice(K) before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to. 19 Be careful not to neglect the Levites(L) as long as you live in your land.(M)
Deuteronomy 12:15-19
International Standard Version
Deuteronomy 12:15-19
International Standard Version
Instructions Pertaining to Food
15 “You may slaughter and eat as much meat as you desire,[a] according to the blessing of the Lord your God, when he provides for you in all your cities.[b] Both ritually unqualified and qualified people[c] may eat it as they would gazelle and deer. 16 However, you are not to consume the blood;[d] instead, you are to pour it out on the ground as you would water.
17 “You won’t be allowed to eat your tithe of grain, new wine, or oil, the firstborn of your herd and flock, your voluntary offerings that you pledged, your free-will offerings, or the works of your hands in your own cities. 18 You’ll eat only in the presence of the Lord your God at the place that he[e] will choose—you, your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the descendant of Levi who is in your cities.[f] Rejoice in the presence of the Lord your God in everything you undertake.[g] 19 Be careful not to forget the descendant of Levi while you live[h] in the land.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Deuteronomy 12:15 Lit. with all the desire of your soul
- Deuteronomy 12:15 Lit. gates
- Deuteronomy 12:15 Lit. unclean and clean; and so throughout the book
- Deuteronomy 12:16 Cf. Acts 15:20, 29
- Deuteronomy 12:18 Lit. that the Lord your God
- Deuteronomy 12:18 Lit. gates
- Deuteronomy 12:18 Lit. in every work of your hand
- Deuteronomy 12:19 Lit. all your days in the land
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
International Standard Version (ISV) 
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.