What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 15:23? But you must not eat the blood “ But you must not eat the blood …” (Deuteronomy 15:23) • In the immediate context Moses is instructing Israel how to handle the firstborn of the herd or flock that is unfit for sacrifice (Deuteronomy 15:19-22). Even when an animal may be eaten at home, the ban on consuming blood still stands. • Blood symbolizes the life of the creature (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11). Because life belongs to God, He reserves the blood for Himself. • The prohibition teaches reverence for the Giver of life and reminds the people that atonement is achieved through shed blood, foreshadowing “the Lamb of God” who would pour out His life for many (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:22). • The command is repeated throughout Scripture—see Leviticus 17:10-12 and reiterated for Gentile believers in Acts 15:20—showing its ongoing moral weight beyond ceremonial law. pour it on the ground like water “… pour it on the ground like water.” (Deuteronomy 15:23) • The act is deliberate: drain the blood and let it flow away, treating it unlike food. This simple gesture recognizes that life returns to the Creator rather than being taken for human consumption. • Pouring blood out “like water” underscores haste and completeness—no portion is to be retained. Comparable instructions appear in Deuteronomy 12:16, 24 and Leviticus 17:13. • By returning the blood to the earth, Israel avoided pagan practices that used blood in magic or idolatrous rites (Psalm 106:37-38). • Practically, the practice promoted cleanliness and prevented disease; spiritually, it cultivated respect for God’s holiness and for human and animal life (Proverbs 12:10). summary Deuteronomy 15:23 commands God’s people to refrain from eating blood and to dispose of it quickly, visibly, and respectfully. Blood is God’s sacred marker of life and atonement, so keeping it off the menu and returning it to the ground reminds us that life is God-given, sin requires a substitutionary sacrifice, and ultimate fulfillment comes in the shed blood of Christ, who gave His life so we might live. |
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