Deuteronomy 12:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Don't eat it, but pour it out on the ground like water.

Berean Standard Bible:

You must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.

American Standard Version:

Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thou shalt not eat^{H398} it; thou shalt pour^{H8210} it upon the earth^{H776} as water^{H4325}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 12:24

Deuteronomy 12:24 is part of a larger discourse in which Moses is instructing the Israelites on the proper worship of God once they enter the Promised Land. The verse reads, "Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water," and it specifically refers to the blood of the sacrificed animals. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the consumption of blood was strictly forbidden because the life of the animal was seen to be in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). This prohibition was not unique to the Israelites, as other cultures also had taboos against consuming blood.

The historical context of Deuteronomy 12 is the period just before the Israelites cross the Jordan River into Canaan. Moses is providing the people with instructions on how to worship Yahweh in the new land, emphasizing the centralization of worship and the importance of ritual purity. The verse reflects the belief that life is sacred and that the blood, as the source of life, should be treated with reverence. By pouring the blood on the ground, the Israelites were symbolically returning the life force to God, who is the giver of life.

The themes of Deuteronomy 12:24 include the sanctity of life, the proper treatment of the sacred, and the distinction between the holy and the common. The verse also underscores the importance of obedience to God's commandments, particularly in the context of worship and sacrifice. The instructions given in this chapter were meant to shape the religious and moral life of the Israelite community, ensuring that their worship practices honored God and maintained the unique identity of the people as God's chosen nation.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
   
2. Strong's Number: H8210
   There are 111 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁפַךְ
   Transliteration: shâphak
   Pronunciation: shaw-fak'
   Description: a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively, to sprawl out; cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der, out), slip.
   
3. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4325
   There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַיִם
   Transliteration: mayim
   Pronunciation: mah'-yim
   Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).