Deuteronomy 12:7
And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּם
And there ye shall eat
H398
וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּם
And there ye shall eat
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
1 of 15
to eat (literally or figuratively)
שָׁ֗ם
H8033
לִפְנֵי֙
before
H6440
לִפְנֵי֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
3 of 15
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָ֥ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
5 of 15
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
וּשְׂמַחְתֶּ֗ם
and ye shall rejoice
H8055
וּשְׂמַחְתֶּ֗ם
and ye shall rejoice
Strong's:
H8055
Word #:
6 of 15
probably to brighten up, i.e., (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome
בְּכֹל֙
H3605
בְּכֹל֙
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִשְׁלַ֣ח
in all that ye put
H4916
מִשְׁלַ֣ח
in all that ye put
Strong's:
H4916
Word #:
8 of 15
a sending out, i.e., (abstractly) presentation (favorable), or seizure (unfavorable); also (concretely) a place of dismissal, or a business to be disc
יֶדְכֶ֔ם
your hand
H3027
יֶדְכֶ֔ם
your hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
9 of 15
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וּבָֽתֵּיכֶ֑ם
unto ye and your households
H1004
וּבָֽתֵּיכֶ֑ם
unto ye and your households
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
11 of 15
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖
hath blessed
H1288
בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖
hath blessed
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
13 of 15
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:18But 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.Deuteronomy 14:26And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,Leviticus 23:40And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.Deuteronomy 12:12And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.Deuteronomy 14:23And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.Deuteronomy 27:7And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.Deuteronomy 15:20Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.
Historical Context
Ancient Israelite worship was festive, not austere. Pilgrimage feasts combined worship with family celebration. Psalm 122 captures joy of 'going unto the house of the LORD.' The fellowship offerings created sacred community meals, fostering relationships among worshipers. This contrasts with pagan worship's fearful appeasement and later Jewish legalism's burdensome rigor. True worship celebrates grace and blessing. New Testament worship similarly emphasizes joy (Philippians 4:4) and communal fellowship (Agape feasts, Lord's Supper).
Questions for Reflection
- How should joy and gratitude characterize Christian worship rather than duty or dread?
- What role does recognizing God's blessing on our work play in authentic worship?
- How can modern worship services recapture the celebratory, communal character described here?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The purpose: 'And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.' Covenant worship involves celebration, not just solemn ritual. The Hebrew samach (שָׂמַח, rejoice) emphasizes joy in God's presence and blessing. The phrase 'eat before the LORD' refers to fellowship offerings (Leviticus 3, 7:11-36) where worshipers consumed portions after dedicating them to God. This sanctified common meals, making eating an act of covenant fellowship. The inclusion of 'households' (family) emphasizes worship as communal, not merely individual. Joy flows from recognizing God's blessing on labor ('all that ye put your hand unto').