Deuteronomy 12:16

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

American Standard Version (1901)

Only ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.

Bible in Basic English

But you may not take the blood for food, it is to be drained out on the earth like water.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Only the blood thou shalt not eat, but thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.

Free Bible Version

but you are not to eat the blood—pour that out on the ground.

Geneva Bible 1599

Onely ye shall not eat the blood, but powre it vpon the earth as water.

King James (Authorized) Version

Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

One Unity Resource Bible

Only you shall not eat the blood. You shall pour it out on the earth like water.

Translation for Translators

But you must not eat the blood of any animals; you must let the blood drain onto the ground before you cook the meat.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But you will not eat the blood; you will pour it out on the earth like water.

Noah Webster Bible

Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

World English Bible

Only you shall not eat the blood. You shall pour it out on the earth like water.

Young's Literal Translation

'Only, the blood ye do not eat — on the earth thou dost pour it as water;

Context

One Place for Worship

¹⁵But whenever you want, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, according to the blessing the LORD your God has given you. Both the ceremonially clean and unclean may eat it as they would a gazelle or deer,¹⁶but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

Summary

In this verse, God instructs the Israelites not to consume the blood of animals but to pour it out on the ground like water. This command is a reminder of the sanctity of blood as representing life, and it serves as a prohibition against pagan practices that involved drinking blood for ritual purposes. By following this directive, the Israelites demonstrate obedience to God's laws and acknowledge His authority over all aspects of their lives, including their dietary practices.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

BLOOD PROHIBITED. (Deu 12:16-25) ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water--The prohibition against eating or drinking blood as an unnatural custom accompanied the announcement of the divine grant of animal flesh for food (Gen 9:4), and the prohibition was repeatedly renewed by Moses with reference to the great objects of the law (Lev 17:12), the prevention of idolatry, and the consecration of the sacrificial blood to God. In regard, however, to the blood of animals slain for food, it might be shed without ceremony and poured on the ground as a common thing like water--only for the sake of decency, as well as for preventing all risk of idolatry, it was to be covered over with earth (Lev 17:13), in opposition to the practice of heathen sportsmen, who left it exposed as an offering to the god of the chase.