And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.

DEUTERONOMY 27:7KJV
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Deuteronomy 27:7 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 27:7 mean?

Deuteronomy 27:7 tells the Israelites to offer peace offerings, eat the meal together, and rejoice in God’s presence. The verse highlights a moment of shared worship and celebration as part of their covenant relationship with the LORD.

Moses is instructing the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The setting is a ceremony on Mount Ebal, where the people are to build an altar, offer sacrifices, and celebrate before God. The verse emphasizes that worship includes both giving offerings and enjoying fellowship together, with joy as a key part of honoring God.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 27:7

  • "Offer" (זָבַח, zāvaḥ): This word means to slaughter or sacrifice, specifically in the context of making offerings to God. Here, it refers to the act of presenting a peace offering, which was a voluntary sacrifice expressing thanksgiving or fellowship.
  • "Offerings" (שֶׁלֶם, shelem): This word means "peace offerings" or "fellowship offerings." These were sacrifices meant to express harmony between the people and God, often shared as a communal meal.
  • "Eat" (אָכַל, akhal): This verb means to eat or consume. In this context, it points to the practice of sharing the sacrificial meal, not just burning it, making the act communal and celebratory.
  • "Rejoice" (שָׂמַח, samach): This word means to be glad or joyful. The instruction to rejoice shows that worship was not only about ritual but also about heartfelt celebration in God’s presence.
  • "Before" (פָּנִים, panim): Literally "face" or "presence," this word here means being in the presence of the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH), highlighting the nearness of God during this act.

Why Deuteronomy 27:7 matters

  • Deuteronomy 27:7 clarifies that worship in ancient Israel was not just about sacrifice but also about community, joy, and sharing a meal in God’s presence.
  • The verse shows that God’s instructions included celebration and gladness, not just solemn rituals, which helps correct the idea that Old Testament worship was only formal or somber.
  • This verse connects to the larger passage where Israel is renewing its covenant with God, showing that obedience to God’s commands includes both reverence and rejoicing.

Where else these words appear

“offerings” Hebrew H8002 · used in 84 verses

  • Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.
  • Leviticus 9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

“offer” Hebrew H2076 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
  • 1 Samuel 2:13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
  • 2 Chronicles 15:11 And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.

“rejoice” Hebrew H8055 · used in 145 verses

  • Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
  • Psalms 34:2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
  • Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.