דברים, פרק י״ב, פסוק כ״ד

The strict avoidance of blood is a central theme in the dietary laws, demanding careful attention to how animals are prepared for consumption. The need to repeatedly emphasize this strict prohibition stems from earlier instructions regarding the altar. Previously, blood was designated as a means of atonement during sacrifices. This could easily lead to a misconception that the blood of an ordinary animal, which is not offered to God, might be permitted for food. Therefore, an explicit restriction is necessary [ביאור יש״ר], serving as an extra precaution to distance people from any habit of consuming it [רלב״ג]. Because blood is designated for such a high, sacred purpose, it retains its forbidden status even when an animal is slaughtered for everyday use and its blood is simply spilled on the ground [העמק דבר].

The restriction extends beyond the primary life-blood that gushes out during the slaughtering process, which carries the most severe spiritual penalty. It also serves as the legal foundation for forbidding secondary types of blood. The first category includes the slow-dripping blood. This refers to both the dark and red fluids that emerge before the main flow begins, as well as the drops that continue to fall after the main flow ends [רש״י, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, גור אריה, רש ר הירש, ברטנורא, תורה תמימה]. The second category involves blood absorbed deep within internal organs, such as the spleen, heart, and kidneys. This blood becomes forbidden the moment it shifts from its original location within the organ, even if it has not yet surfaced outside the meat [מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, רש ר הירש, ברטנורא, תורה תמימה]. Additionally, some commentators note that the Talmud derives the prohibition of mixing meat and milk from this context, despite the direct focus on blood [מלבי״ם, תורה תמימה].

Regarding how to dispose of the blood, the instruction to pour it on the earth like water carries significant practical implications. Because the preparation of domestic animals was previously compared to the hunting of wild game like deer, one might assume that the blood of domestic animals must also be covered with earth. The comparison to water clarifies that the blood simply needs to be poured out, with no requirement to cover it [רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר] or to place it on an altar [אדרת אליהו]. It must be discarded on the ground so that it is entirely lost and unfit for consumption, rather than being gathered and stored in containers the way one might preserve wine or oil [ספורנו].

Discarding the blood like water also serves a profound ideological purpose. In ancient times, idolaters and sorcerers attributed magical powers to blood and used it heavily in their rituals. By requiring it to be poured out like ordinary water, the Torah strips blood of any mystical importance, deliberately uprooting pagan practices [רלב״ג, רש ר הירש]. At the same time, this act should not be driven by feelings of disgust. Just as water is clear and pure, a person should recognize that they might naturally desire to consume blood just as they enjoy water. The sole reason they refrain and pour it away is out of pure obedience to God, fulfilling His decree and doing what is right in His eyes [הכתב והקבלה]. Ultimately, avoiding blood protects human moral purity, distancing people from animalistic tendencies and guiding future generations toward a life characterized by kindness and compassion [רש ר הירש].