Deuteronomy 12:16

16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out upon the earth like water.

Deuteronomy 12:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:16

Only ye shall not eat the blood
All manner of blood being forbidden, of fowl or of beasts, whether slain for sacrifice or for common food:

ye shall pour it out upon the earth as water;
which cannot be gathered up again for use, but is swallowed up in the earth.

Deuteronomy 12:16 In-Context

14 but at the place which the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you.

15 "However, you may slaughter and eat flesh within any of your towns, as much as you desire, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which he has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and as of the hart.

16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out upon the earth like water.

17 You may not eat within your towns the tithe of your grain or of your wine or of your oil, or the firstlings of your herd or of your flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the offering that you present;

18 but you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and the Levite who is within your towns; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake.