Deuteronomy 12:16 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is telling His people that while they can eat meat, they must never consume the blood - instead, they should pour it out on the ground.

📚 Historical Context

This command was given to the Israelites as part of God's dietary laws before they entered the Promised Land. In ancient cultures, blood was often consumed or used in pagan rituals, but God set His people apart with this prohibition. The blood was considered sacred because it represented life itself, and only God had authority over life and death.

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Explore Similar Verses

Deuteronomy 15:23

Just don't eat the blood from it; pour the blood out on the ground like water.

Exodus 4:9

And if they still won't believe these two signs or listen to what you say, then take some water from the river and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will turn into blood when it hits the dry land.

Deuteronomy 12:24

You must not eat it; instead, pour it out on the ground like water.

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