Deuteronomy 15:22 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 15:22 mean?

Deuteronomy 15:22 says that if an animal set aside for sacrifice becomes unsuitable, anyone—whether considered ritually clean or unclean—may eat it within their own towns, just as they would eat wild game like a deer or gazelle. The verse makes clear that there is no distinction between people’s ritual status in this case.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites, giving them instructions about what to do with animals that cannot be offered as sacrifices due to some defect. Instead of being wasted, these animals can be eaten by anyone in the community, not just the ritually clean, and not only at the sanctuary. The comparison to wild animals highlights that the meat is ordinary food, not part of a sacred offering.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 15:22

• "eat" (אָכַל, ’akal): This word means to consume or eat. Its use here emphasizes that the animal is now simply food, not a ritual object.
• "gates" (שַׁעַר, sha‘ar): This refers to the towns or settlements where the Israelites lived. The instruction to eat "within thy gates" means the meat can be consumed anywhere in their community, not just at the central place of worship.
• "unclean" (טָמֵא, tame’); "clean" (טָהוֹר, tahor): These words refer to ritual status. The verse’s mention of both shows that ritual purity laws do not apply to eating this meat, which is unusual for food regulations in the Torah.
• "alike" (יַחְדָּו, yachdav): This word means "together" or "equally," stressing that no distinction is made between people’s ritual status in this situation.
• "roebuck" (צְבִי, tsevi) and "hart" (אַיָּל, ayyal): These are types of wild game. The comparison means the animal is treated like ordinary, non-sacrificial meat.

Why Deuteronomy 15:22 matters

• This verse clarifies that animals disqualified from sacrifice are not wasted but may be used as food, showing a practical approach to resources.
• The instruction that both "clean" and "unclean" people may eat the meat breaks from the usual restrictions, highlighting a difference between sacrificial and non-sacrificial food.
• By comparing the meat to wild game, Deuteronomy 15:22 helps define the boundaries between what is sacred and what is ordinary, reinforcing the special status of sacrificial offerings.