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cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm" title="Deuteronomy 12:3">◄</a> Deuteronomy 12:4 <a href="/deuteronomy/12-5.htm" title="Deuteronomy 12:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/12.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/12.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Do not worship the LORD your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/12.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/12.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/12.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />You shall not worship the LORD your God <i>with</i> such <i>things.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall not act this way toward the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/12.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />You shall not do thus toward Yahweh your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/deuteronomy/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/deuteronomy/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Don’t worship the LORD your God this way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Don&#8217t worship the LORD your God this way. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/deuteronomy/12.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye shall not do so unto Jehovah your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/deuteronomy/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Don't worship the LORD your God in the way those nations worship their gods. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/deuteronomy/12.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Never worship the LORD your God in the way they worship their gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/12.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Do not worship the LORD your God in the way that these people worship their gods. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/deuteronomy/12.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You must not act like this with respect to the LORD your God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/deuteronomy/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall not worship the LORD your God in this way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/deuteronomy/12.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />You must not worship the LORD your God the way they worship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />You shall not do so to the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not do so to the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/deuteronomy/12.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />You shall not do so to Yahweh your God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You do not do so to your God YHWH;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Ye do not do so to Jehovah your God;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/deuteronomy/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not do so to Jehovah your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />You shall not do so to the Lord your God: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But you shall not do the same to the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/12.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />That is not how you are to act toward the LORD, your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not worship the LORD your God in such ways.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not do so to the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/12.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And you shall not do so to LORD JEHOVAH your God.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/12.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/deuteronomy/12.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not do so to the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=3573" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/12.htm">One Place for Worship</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the idols of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You shall not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ṯa·‘ă·śūn (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp:: Pn) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">worship</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem (N-mpc:: 2mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">your God</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: kên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">in this way.</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-5</a></span><br />You shall have no other gods before Me. / You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm">Leviticus 18:3-4</a></span><br />You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs. / You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-35.htm">2 Kings 17:35-36</a></span><br />For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites and commanded them, “Do not worship other gods or bow down to them; do not serve them or sacrifice to them. / Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/33-17.htm">2 Chronicles 33:17</a></span><br />Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-2.htm">Jeremiah 10:2-3</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. / For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm">Isaiah 44:15-17</a></span><br />It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread. He also fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. / He burns half of it in the fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. Indeed, he warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” / From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-18.htm">Ezekiel 20:18-19</a></span><br />In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. / I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/81-9.htm">Psalm 81:9</a></span><br />There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-21.htm">1 Kings 18:21</a></span><br />Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-2.htm">Hosea 13:2</a></span><br />Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29-30</a></span><br />Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. / Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-23</a></span><br />For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-14.htm">1 Corinthians 10:14</a></span><br />Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-16.htm">2 Corinthians 6:16-17</a></span><br />What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” / “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-8.htm">Galatians 4:8-9</a></span><br />Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall not do so to the LORD your God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/12-30.htm">Deuteronomy 12:30,31</a></b></br> Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/16-21.htm">Deuteronomy 16:21,22</a></b></br> Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/20-18.htm">Deuteronomy 20:18</a></b></br> That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/10-6.htm">Act</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/11-30.htm">Way</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-2.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/12-31.htm">Act</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-8.htm">Way</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/12-30.htm">Worship</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 12</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-1.htm">Monuments of idolatry to be destroyed</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">The place of God's service to be kept</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-15.htm">Blood is forbidden</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-17.htm">Holy things must be eaten in the holy place</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-19.htm">The Levite is not to be forsaken</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-20.htm">Blood is again forbidden</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-26.htm">and holy things must be eaten in the holy place</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-29.htm">Idolatry is not to be enquired after</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/deuteronomy/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/deuteronomy/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You shall not worship</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the importance of worship practices in the life of the Israelites. Worship was central to their identity and relationship with God. The command here is a directive to avoid certain practices, highlighting the need for purity and obedience in worship. This reflects the broader biblical theme that true worship must align with God's instructions, as seen in <a href="/john/4-24.htm">John 4:24</a>, where worship is to be in spirit and truth.<p><b>the LORD your God</b><br>The use of "LORD" in all capitals signifies the divine name YHWH, the covenant name of God given to Israel. This underscores the personal and covenantal relationship between God and His people. It is a reminder of the unique identity of God as the one true God, distinct from the gods of the surrounding nations. This phrase also connects to the first commandment in <a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3</a>, which calls for exclusive worship of YHWH.<p><b>in this way</b><br>The context of <a href="/deuteronomy/12.htm">Deuteronomy 12</a> is a warning against adopting the worship practices of the Canaanites, which included idolatry and other abominable acts. "In this way" refers to the specific pagan rituals and practices that were prevalent in the land they were entering. This prohibition is a call to maintain distinctiveness and holiness, as seen in <a href="/leviticus/18-3.htm">Leviticus 18:3-4</a>, where Israel is instructed not to follow the customs of Egypt or Canaan. The phrase also foreshadows the New Testament teaching in <a href="/romans/12-2.htm">Romans 12:2</a>, which urges believers not to conform to the patterns of this world.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Deuteronomy, delivering God's laws and instructions to the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, receiving instructions on how to worship and live in the Promised Land.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land the Israelites are about to enter, where they are warned against adopting pagan worship practices.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/pagan_nations.htm">Pagan Nations</a></b><br>The inhabitants of Canaan whose worship practices are abominable to God and are to be avoided by the Israelites.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/p/purity_in_worship.htm">Purity in Worship</a></b><br>God desires worship that is pure and distinct from the practices of the world. Just as the Israelites were called to avoid the pagan practices of Canaan, Christians today are called to worship God in spirit and truth, avoiding syncretism with worldly values.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/exclusive_devotion.htm">Exclusive Devotion</a></b><br>The command underscores the importance of exclusive devotion to God. Believers are reminded to examine their lives for any practices or beliefs that might compromise their devotion to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_influence.htm">Cultural Influence</a></b><br>The Israelites were warned against the influence of Canaanite culture. Similarly, Christians must be vigilant about the cultural influences that can subtly lead them away from biblical truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>The verse highlights the importance of obedience to God's specific instructions regarding worship. This calls for a careful study of Scripture to understand how God desires to be worshiped today.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 12</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_early_israelites_offer_firstfruits.htm">How did early Israelites fulfill the centralized requirement of bringing firstfruits (Deuteronomy 26) before a formal temple or priesthood was consistently established?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_jehoshaphat's_reform_seem_inconsistent.htm">(2 Chronicles 17:6) How is the claim that Jehoshaphat removed high places consistent with other passages stating they persisted under various kings? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_unbiblical_worship_practices.htm">What defines unbiblical worship practices?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_god's_laws_shift_in_deut._12_20-21.htm">In Deuteronomy 12:20–21, why would God’s instructions shift based on the Israelites’ proximity to the sanctuary if His laws are deemed unchanging? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/deuteronomy/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Ye shall not do so</span>--i.e. shall not serve Him upon the high mountains, and hills, and under every green tree, after the manner of the nations.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/deuteronomy/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 4-6.</span> - The heathen placed their altars and offered their worship wherever they thought fit, according to their notions of the deity and his service; but Israel was not to do so unto Jehovah their God: he himself would choose the places where he was to be worshipped, and there alone might they come with offering and service. As the revealed God - the God whose being and perfections had been made known, not by a vague revelation of him in nature merely, but expressly by his putting or recording his Name historically and locally among men (cf. <a href="/exodus/20-24.htm">Exodus 20:24</a>) - so should there be a definite place chosen and appointed by him where he would come to receive the worship of his people, where he would record his Name, and where he would be known for a Refuge and a Helper to all who put their trust in him (<a href="/psalms/48-3.htm">Psalm 48:3</a>; <a href="/psalms/76-1.htm">Psalm 76:1</a>, etc.; <a href="/daniel/9-18.htm">Daniel 9:18</a>). The Name of God is God himself as revealed; and he puts his Name on any place where he specially manifests himself as present (cf. <a href="/1_kings/8-29.htm">1 Kings 8:29</a>), and which is consequently to be regarded as his habitation or dwelling-place. Hence the temple at Jerusalem was in later times known as the place of the Name of Jehovah (<a href="/isaiah/18-7.htm">Isaiah 18:7</a>), the dwelling-place of his glory (<a href="/psalms/26-8.htm">Psalm 26:8</a>). But he is the God of the whole earth, and therefore, wherever he is pleased to reveal himself, in whatever place he makes his Name to be known, there he is to be worshipped. There is no reference in this passage to the temple at Jerusalem specially, as some have supposed; what is here enjoined is only a practical application of the Divine promise, that in <span class="accented">all</span> places where God would record his Name, there he would come to bless his people (<a href="/exodus/20-24.htm">Exodus 20:24</a>). The reference here, therefore, is quite general, and applies to any place where, by the Divine appointment, the tabernacle might be set up and the worship of Jehovah instituted. <span class="cmt_word">Unto his habitation shall ye seek.</span> To seek to any place means, primarily, to resort to it, to frequent it (cf. <a href="/2_chronicles/1-5.htm">2 Chronicles 1:5</a>), but with the implied purpose of inquiring there for something, as for responses or oracles, when the place resorted to was that in which God had put his Name. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You shall not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">worship</span><br /><span class="heb">תַעֲשׂ֣וּן</span> <span class="translit">(ṯa·‘ă·śūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">לַיהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in this way.</span><br /><span class="heb">כֵּ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(kên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> </span><span class="str2">So -- thus</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">Deuteronomy 12:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/deuteronomy/12-4.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 12:4 You shall not do so to Yahweh (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 12:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 12:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 12:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 12:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>