Deuteronomy 12:16 kjv — Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.

King James Version

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

— Deuteronomy 12:16, King James Version

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Deuteronomy 12:16 in Other Translations

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Deuteronomy 12 — Context

13

Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:

14

But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

15

Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.

16

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

17

Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:

18

But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

19

Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 12:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Deuteronomy 12:16 say?
Deuteronomy 12:16 in the King James Version reads: “Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.”
Where is Deuteronomy 12:16 in the Bible?
Deuteronomy 12:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 12, verse 16.
Who wrote Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). Largely framed as Moses' farewell speeches; the closing chapter narrating his death was likely added by Joshua or a later editor. It was written c. 1406 BC.
What is the book of Deuteronomy about?
Deuteronomy is Moses' final sermons to Israel before they enter the Promised Land — a renewed call to love and obey the LORD. It re-states the Law, rehearses Israel's history, and lays before the people blessing for obedience and curse for rebellion.
What are the major themes of Deuteronomy?
Deuteronomy explores themes including Covenant, Love, Obedience, Remembrance, Blessing & Curse. These themes shape the meaning and context of Deuteronomy 12:16.
What translation should I read Deuteronomy 12:16 in?
Deuteronomy 12:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Deuteronomy 12:16?
Deuteronomy 12:16 reads (KJV): “Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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