The Meaning of Deuteronomy 12:23 Explained

Deuteronomy 12:23

KJV: Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

YLT: Only, be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and thou dost not eat the life with the flesh;

Darby: Only, be sure that thou eat not the blood; for the blood is the life, and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh;

ASV: Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou shalt not eat the life with the flesh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Only be sure  that thou eat  not the blood:  for the blood  [is] the life;  and thou mayest not eat  the life  with the flesh. 

What does Deuteronomy 12:23 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 12

1  Monuments of idolatry to be destroyed
4  The place of God's service to be kept
15  Blood is forbidden
17  Holy things must be eaten in the holy place
19  The Levite is not to be forsaken
20  Blood is again forbidden
26  and holy things must be eaten in the holy place
29  Idolatry is not to be enquired after

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 12:23 mean?

Only be sure not that you do eat the blood for the blood is the life and not you may eat the life with the meat
רַ֣ק חֲזַ֗ק לְבִלְתִּי֙ אֲכֹ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם כִּ֥י הַדָּ֖ם ה֣וּא הַנָּ֑פֶשׁ וְלֹא־ תֹאכַ֥ל הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ עִם־ הַבָּשָֽׂר

רַ֣ק  Only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
חֲזַ֗ק  be  sure 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
אֲכֹ֣ל  that  you  do  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הַדָּ֔ם  the  blood 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
הַדָּ֖ם  the  blood 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
הַנָּ֑פֶשׁ  the  life 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
וְלֹא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תֹאכַ֥ל  you  may  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ  the  life 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
הַבָּשָֽׂר  the  meat 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.