Before the LORD your God: that is, in the place of worship, “In the presence of the LORD your God” (see 9.18 and elsewhere).

In the place he will choose to make his name dwell there: this refers to the central sanctuary. See 12.5, 11, 14, 21.

You shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil: these are the three principal agricultural products: wheat and barley, grapes for making wine, and olives for making olive oil.

The firstlings of your herd and flock: Good News Translation “the first-born of your cattle and sheep” is more natural English; but “goats” should also be included. These animals are not included in the tithe of verse 21, but they were eaten by the Israelites as they feasted in the central sanctuary. These animals belonged to Yahweh and so were eaten in the sanctuary as an act of worship (see 12.6, 17; 15.19-23).

That you may learn to fear the LORD your God always: the payment of the tithe to God was to acknowledge God as the owner of the land and as the one who blessed the people with abundant crops. The people’s prosperity was God’s gift, not the result of their hard work. For to fear, in the sense of “honor” and “respect,” see 4.10. For the LORD your God see 1.6.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Take ten percent of your grain, wine, and olive oil, and the first-born of every cow, sheep, and goat, to the place where the LORD has chosen for you to worship him. Eat this food and the meat of these animals there. This will teach you to always respect the LORD your God.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .