Reeh 12:16 · unit 3

TT #63 · Parashas Reeh · First Aliyah · Passuk 12:16

The Complete Passuk

רַ֥ק הַדָּ֖ם לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ תִּשְׁפְּכֶ֖נּוּ כַּמָּֽיִם׃

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

Chabad.org — 12:16

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תִּשְׁפְּכֶנּוּ כַּמַּיִם – מְלַמֵּד דַּאֲפִלּוּ דָּמָן שֶׁל פְּסוּלֵי הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁין מֻתָּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה, וּמַאי רַבּוּתֵיהּ, סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא הוֹאִיל וַאֲסִירִי בְּגִזָּה וַעֲבוֹדָה דָּמָן לִבָּעֵי קְבוּרָה, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

English: “You shall pour it out like water” — This teaches that even the blood of disqualified consecrated animals is permitted for benefit. And what is the novelty? One might have thought that since they are forbidden for shearing and for labor, their blood should require burial. Therefore the verse informs us [that it does not].

On the daf / in context: Even though the animal itself retains certain residual restrictions, its blood may still be used for ordinary benefit.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — benefit from the blood of pesulei ha-mukdashin.

What Is Learned

The blood of disqualified consecrated animals is permitted for ordinary benefit and does not require burial.