Deuteronomy 15:23
Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.
Original Language Analysis
רַ֥ק
H7535
רַ֥ק
Strong's:
H7535
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
דָּמ֖וֹ
the blood
H1818
דָּמ֖וֹ
the blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
3 of 9
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 9
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 9
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָאָ֥רֶץ
it upon the ground
H776
הָאָ֥רֶץ
it upon the ground
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
7 of 9
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:16Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.Deuteronomy 12:23Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.Leviticus 7:26Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
Historical Context
Blood prohibition distinguished Israel from pagan cultures that consumed blood in ritual meals, believing it transferred the animal's strength or connected them to deities. God's command elevated blood's sanctity—life belongs to God alone, not human consumption or manipulation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Old Covenant's prohibition on drinking blood (pour it out) contrast with Christ's command to drink His blood (internalize it)?
- What does 'pouring blood like water' (returning life to God) teach about stewardship—you use resources but acknowledge God's ultimate ownership?
- In what ways does every meal remain a 'theological act' where you acknowledge God as life's source?
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Analysis & Commentary
Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water—Even in common meals, blood remains sacred: The life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). The prohibition to pour it upon the ground returns life symbolically to God—acknowledging Him as life's source and owner. This ordinance applied to all meat consumption, not only sacrifice, making every meal a theological act.
Hebrews explains the ultimate significance: Without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). Christ's blood, shed and poured out for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28), accomplished what animal blood foreshadowed. The Lord's Supper reverses the command—we drink Christ's blood (symbolically, John 6:53-56), internalizing the New Covenant's atoning power. Blood poured out in the Old Covenant becomes blood taken in under the New.