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Deuteronomy 12:23

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 12:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou shalt not eat the life with the flesh.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou shalt not eat the life with the flesh.
Deuteronomy 12:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20When Jehovah thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul desireth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, after all the desire of thy soul.
21If the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to put his name there, be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which Jehovah hath given thee, as I have commanded thee; and thou mayest eat within thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul.
22Even as the gazelle and as the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat thereof: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof alike.
23Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou shalt not eat the life with the flesh.
24Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.
25Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah.
26Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which Jehovah shall choose:
← Deuteronomy 12:22Deuteronomy 12:24 →
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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 be sure that thou eat not the blood, etc.] This is repeated again, that they might be careful to observe the law concerning that: for the blood is the life: which is the reason given for the prohibition of it, (see Gill on “<031711>Leviticus 17:11”), and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh: by which it seems that the meaning of the law was, that the blood might not be eaten in or with the flesh, but to be let out of it, or the fish not to be eaten raw, but dressed; for there were various laws about eating of blood, which are differently expressed.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:23 the blood is the life: In this figure of speech, the means (blood) is equated with the effect (life). Since life is sacred, its vehicle, the blood, is also sacred (see also Lev 17:11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“sure: Heb. strong the blood is: Gen 9:4; Lev 3:16, Lev 3:17, Lev 17:11, Lev 17:14; Mat 20:28; Rev 5:9 Deuteronomy 12:24”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The law relating to the blood, as in Deu 12:16. \- "Be strong not to eat the blood," i.e., stedfastly resist the temptation to eat it. Deuteronomy 12:25”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification