Deuteronomy 12:16 kjv
Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.
Deuteronomy 12:16 nkjv
Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it on the earth like water.
Deuteronomy 12:16 niv
But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.
Deuteronomy 12:16 esv
Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth like water.
Deuteronomy 12:16 nlt
But you must not consume the blood. You must pour it out on the ground like water.
Deuteronomy 12 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:4 | But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. | Earliest command against eating blood to Noah. |
| Lev 3:17 | ...ye shall eat neither fat nor blood. | General prohibition of fat and blood. |
| Lev 7:26 | Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast... | Broad prohibition of blood. |
| Lev 7:27 | Whosoever eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off... | Severe penalty for disobedience. |
| Lev 17:10 | ...I will even set My face against that soul that eateth blood... | Divine opposition to blood-eaters. |
| Lev 17:11 | For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. | Blood holds life and atones. |
| Lev 17:12 | Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood... | Reiterated command for Israelites. |
| Lev 17:13 | Whatsoever man... hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof... | Disposal method similar to Deut 12:16. |
| Lev 17:14 | For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof... | Reiteration of blood's link to life. |
| Deut 15:23 | Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water. | Another instance of the same command. |
| 1 Sam 14:32 | And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep... and did eat them with the blood. | Israelites disobeyed in battle. |
| 1 Sam 14:33 | ...Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. | Saul addresses their sin. |
| 1 Sam 14:34 | And Saul said, Disperse yourselves... and every man bring his ox... and slay them here, and eat... and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood. | Correction of improper eating. |
| Ezek 33:25 | ...Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols... | Condemnation of idolaters who eat blood. |
| Psa 16:4 | ...their drink offerings of blood will I not offer... | Mention of pagan blood offerings. |
| Acts 15:20 | But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. | Apostolic decree for Gentiles, includes blood. |
| Acts 15:29 | That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication... | Reinforcement of the decree. |
| Acts 21:25 | ...they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. | James confirms the Gentile requirements. |
| John 6:53-56 | Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life... | Christ's symbolic 'eating' of His flesh and blood for spiritual life. |
| Eph 1:7 | In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins... | Redemption achieved through Christ's blood. |
| Heb 9:12 | Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once... | Christ's blood as superior atonement. |
| Heb 9:22 | And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. | Shedding of blood for forgiveness. |
| 1 John 1:7 | ...and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. | Cleansing power of Christ's blood. |
Deuteronomy 12 verses
Deuteronomy 12 16 Meaning
Deuteronomy 12:16 unequivocally prohibits the consumption of blood, even from animals slaughtered for ordinary food. Instead, it commands that the blood be poured out onto the earth like water, signifying its return to the ground and its sacred nature, representing life that belongs to God.
Deuteronomy 12 16 Context
Deuteronomy Chapter 12 provides instructions concerning Israel's worship in the Promised Land, emphasizing the centralization of worship at a single divinely chosen location, in contrast to the numerous local high places used by the Canaanites. Within this framework, the chapter distinguishes between sacrificial offerings, which were to be brought to the central sanctuary, and the slaughter of animals for common, non-sacrificial food anywhere within the land. Verse 16 specifically addresses the latter, giving regulations for how to handle the blood of such animals. This commandment reinforces the sanctity of life and prevents Israel from adopting pagan practices that might involve consuming blood in rituals.
Deuteronomy 12 16 Word analysis
- Only: Emphasizes the singular and critical nature of this prohibition. It sets this rule apart as an absolute requirement, even amidst permissions for consuming meat for common sustenance.
- ye shall not eat: The Hebrew lo' tokhelu (לֹא תֹאכְלוּ) is a strong negative command, indicating a strict and absolute prohibition against the consumption of blood. It leaves no room for exception in regular eating.
- the blood: The Hebrew haddam (הַדָּם) refers specifically to animal blood. In ancient Israelite thought, and throughout the biblical narrative, blood is intrinsically linked with life itself, being the carrier of the animating spirit. Its prohibition for consumption underscores the reverence for life, which belongs solely to God.
- ye shall pour it: The Hebrew v'shaphakhtem (וּשְׁפַכְתֶּם) denotes a deliberate act of emptying out or shedding. This indicates a prescribed ritualistic disposal, not a careless discard.
- upon the earth: The Hebrew al ha'arets (עַל הָאָרֶץ) signifies that the blood, which represents life given by God, must be returned to the ground from which all life springs, and where Abel's blood cried out (Gen 4:10). This symbolizes its sacredness and the unsuitability for human consumption.
- as water: The Hebrew kammayim (כַּמָּיִם) is a simile emphasizing the complete and unrecoverable disposal. Just as water poured on the ground cannot be gathered, neither should the blood be preserved or used for any purpose once it is separated from the animal. This prevents any pagan associations or superstitions regarding the use of blood.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Only ye shall not eat the blood: This phrase forms the absolute and unchanging negative injunction. It directly confronts any inclination to consume blood, differentiating Israel's dietary practices from those of surrounding nations and establishing a fundamental boundary rooted in reverence for life.
- ye shall pour it upon the earth as water: This phrase provides the specific, reverent, and complete method for disposing of the sacred substance of blood when an animal is killed for non-sacrificial food. It ensures that the life-principle contained within the blood is respected as belonging to God, returning to its origin in the ground rather than being incorporated into human beings.
Deuteronomy 12 16 Bonus section
- The prohibition of eating blood pre-dates the Mosaic Law, first appearing as a command given to Noah after the flood (Gen 9:4), signifying its universal ethical significance tied to the sanctity of life.
- While blood could not be consumed, it was centrally important for ceremonial purification and atonement on the altar (Lev 17:11). This highlights a significant distinction: it was not to enter the human body, but it could serve as a means of reconciliation with God when ritually applied.
- This instruction reinforces the theological truth of God's dominion over all life. It taught Israel dependence on God for sustenance and life itself, rather than seeking vitality or power from a created element.
- The Apostolic Council in Acts 15 reaffirmed the abstention from blood for Gentile believers, demonstrating the enduring principle of respecting life and maintaining practices that distinguished God's people from pagan associations.
Deuteronomy 12 16 Commentary
Deuteronomy 12:16 is a clear reiteration of a command fundamental to the Mosaic Law: the prohibition against consuming blood. This directive is not merely dietary; it is profoundly theological. Firstly, it acknowledges that "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Lev 17:11). Since life itself is a divine gift and ultimately belongs to God, humans are forbidden from appropriating this sacred element for common sustenance. Consuming blood would symbolically claim dominion over life, usurping God's authority. Secondly, this command acts as a polemic against the pagan practices prevalent among the Canaanites and other nations, who sometimes drank blood in their idolatrous rituals, believing it would grant them life or communion with their deities. By strictly prohibiting this, God demarcated Israel as His holy people, distinct from their neighbors' corrupt practices. Finally, this continuous command foreshadows the ultimate use of blood in atonement. If blood holds the very life, it becomes the fit medium through which life is surrendered for redemption. This culminates in the New Testament understanding of Jesus Christ's blood shed for the remission of sins, signifying life given for eternal life (Heb 9:22). The instruction to "pour it upon the earth as water" indicates a respectful and irreversible disposal, marking it as distinct, unusable for profane purposes, yet essential for atonement when used on the altar.