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Deuteronomy 12:16

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 12:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Only ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Only ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.
Deuteronomy 12:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest;
14but in the place which Jehovah shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
15Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh within all thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the gazelle, and as of the hart.
16Only ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.
17Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy grain, or of thy new wine, or of thine oil, or the firstlings of thy herd or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill-offerings, nor the heave-offering of thy hand;
18but thou shalt eat them before Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.
19Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest in thy land.
← Deuteronomy 12:15Deuteronomy 12:17 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Only ye shall not eat the blood, etc.] All manner of blood being forbidden, of fowl or of beasts, whether slain for sacrifice or for common food: ye shall pour it out upon the earth as water; which cannot be gathered up again for use, but is swallowed up in the earth.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical 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…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:16 The prohibition against consuming blood pertained both to sacrificial animals and to those slain for meat. Because it represented life, blood was sacred and was to be rendered only to God. This principle is inherent in creation and preceded the law (Gen 4:10-11; 9:4-6; Lev 17:11). See also study note on Lev 7:26-27.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Deu 12:23, Deu 12:24, Deu 15:23; Gen 9:4 Lev 7:26, Lev 7:27, Lev 17:10-13; Act 15:29; Ti1 4:4 Deuteronomy 12:17”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 12 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification