Deuteronomy 12:23
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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.
Open source ↗Moses at this chapter comes to the particular statues which he had to give in charge to Israel, and he begins with those which relate to the worship of God, and particularly those which explain the second commandment, about which God is in a special manner jealous. I. They must utterly destroy all relics and remains of idolatry (Deu 12:1-3). II. They must keep close to the tabernacle (Deu 12:4, Deu 12:5). The former precept was intended to prevent all false worship, the latter to preserve the worship God had instituted. By this latter law, 1. They are commanded to bring all their offerings to the altar of God, and all their holy things to the place which he should choose (Deu 12:6, Deu 12:7, Deu 12:11, Deu 12:12, Deu 12:14, Deu 12:18, Deu 12:26-28). 2. They are forbidden, in general, to do as they now did in the wilderness (Deu 12:8-11), and as the Canaanites had done (Deu 12:29-32), and, in particular, to eat the hallowed things at their own houses (Deu 12:13, Deu 12:17, Deu 12:18), or to forsake the instituted ministry (Deu 12:19). 3. They are permitted to eat flesh as common food at their own houses, provided they do not eat the blood (Deu 12:15, Deu 12:16, and again, Deu 12:20-26).
Open source ↗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).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
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.
But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.