Deuteronomy 15:23
New International Version
But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.

New Living Translation
But you must not consume the blood. You must pour it out on the ground like water.

English Standard Version
Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.

Berean Standard Bible
But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

King James Bible
Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.

New King James Version
Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it on the ground like water.

New American Standard Bible
Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.

NASB 1995
“Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.

NASB 1977
“Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.

Legacy Standard Bible
Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.

Amplified Bible
Only you shall not eat its blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.

Christian Standard Bible
But you must not eat its blood; pour it on the ground like water.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But you must not eat its blood; pour it on the ground like water.”

American Standard Version
Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.

Contemporary English Version
But you must never eat the blood of an animal--let it drain out on the ground.

English Revised Version
Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But never eat the blood. Pour it on the ground like water.

Good News Translation
But do not use their blood for food; instead, you must pour it out on the ground like water.

International Standard Version
Only you must not eat its blood. Pour it on the ground like water."

Majority Standard Bible
But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

NET Bible
However, you must not eat its blood; you must pour it out on the ground like water.

New Heart English Bible
Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground as water.

Webster's Bible Translation
Only thou shalt not eat its blood; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.

World English Bible
Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it out on the ground like water.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Only, you do not eat its blood—you pour it on the earth as water.”

Young's Literal Translation
Only, its blood thou dost not eat; on the earth thou dost pour it as water.

Smith's Literal Translation
Only its blood thou shalt not eat: upon the earth shalt thou pour it as water.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Only thou shalt take heed not to eat their blood, but pour it out on the earth as water.

Catholic Public Domain Version
This alone shall you observe: that you do not eat their blood, but pour it upon the ground like water.”

New American Bible
Only, you must not eat of its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.

New Revised Standard Version
Its blood, however, you must not eat; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Only you shall not eat the blood; but you must pour it out on the ground like water.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Only the blood you shall not eat, but pour it on the ground like water.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Only ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out on the earth as water.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Firstborn Animals
22Eat it within your gates; both the ceremonially unclean and clean may eat it as they would a gazelle or a deer. 23But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

Cross References
Leviticus 17:10-14
If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people. / For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. / Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood.’ ...

Genesis 9:4
But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

Acts 15:20
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

Acts 15:29
You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Leviticus 3:17
This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”

Leviticus 7:26-27
You must not eat the blood of any bird or animal in any of your dwellings. / If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.’”

1 Samuel 14:32-34
So they rushed greedily to the plunder, taking sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood still in it. / Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.” / Then he said, “Go among the troops and tell them, ‘Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep, slaughter them in this place, and then eat. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.’” So that night everyone brought his ox and slaughtered it there.

Ezekiel 33:25
Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?

Acts 21:25
As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

Leviticus 19:26
You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

Romans 14:14-15
I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. / If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.

Genesis 9:3-4
Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things. / But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

1 Corinthians 8:7-13
But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. / But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. / Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ...

Ezekiel 4:14
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”


Treasury of Scripture

Only you shall not eat the blood thereof; you shall pour it on the ground as water.

Deuteronomy 12:16,23
Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water…

Leviticus 7:26
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.

1 Samuel 14:32
And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

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Deuteronomy 15
1. The seventh year a year of release for the poor
7. one must be generous in lending or giving
12. A Hebrew servant, except by choice, must be freed in the seventh year
19. All firstborn males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord.














But you must not eat the blood
The phrase "you must not eat the blood" is a direct command from God, emphasizing the sanctity of life. In Hebrew, the word for blood is "דָּם" (dam), which is often associated with life itself, as seen in Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood." This prohibition is rooted in the understanding that life belongs to God, and consuming blood would be akin to consuming life itself, which is reserved for God alone. Historically, this command set the Israelites apart from surrounding nations, many of whom practiced rituals involving the consumption of blood. This distinction underscored Israel's unique covenant relationship with God and their call to holiness.

pour it on the ground like water
The instruction to "pour it on the ground like water" signifies a respectful return of life to the earth, acknowledging God's sovereignty over life and death. In ancient Israelite culture, this act was a form of ritual purification, ensuring that the people remained ceremonially clean. The imagery of pouring blood "like water" suggests an act of humility and obedience, recognizing that life flows from and returns to God. Archaeological findings have shown that such practices were common in ancient Israel, reflecting a deep reverence for God's commandments. This act also served as a reminder of the sacrificial system, where blood was a key element in atonement rituals, pointing forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood would be poured out for the redemption of humanity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But
רַ֥ק (raq)
Adverb
Strong's 7535: But, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least, nevertheless

you must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

eat
תֹאכֵ֑ל (ṯō·ḵêl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

the blood;
דָּמ֖וֹ (dā·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

pour
תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ (tiš·pə·ḵen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

it on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the ground
הָאָ֥רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

like water.
כַּמָּֽיִם׃ (kam·mā·yim)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 15:23 Only you shall not eat its blood (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 15:22
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