Contradiction with Genesis 9:4
This verse similarly commands not to eat flesh with blood, supporting rather than contradicting Deuteronomy 12:23.
Genesis 9:4: But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Contradiction with Acts 15:29
This verse instructs believers to abstain from blood, aligning with rather than opposing Deuteronomy 12:23.
Acts 15:29: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Contradiction with Leviticus 17:14
This verse reiterates the prohibition against consuming blood, consistent with Deuteronomy 12:23 rather than contradicting it.
Leviticus 17:14: For [it is] the life of all flesh; the blood of it [is] for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh [is] the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Paradox #1
Deuteronomy 12:23 discusses not consuming blood because it is the life of the flesh. A possible theological conflict is with verses in the New Testament, like Mark 7:18-19, where Jesus declares all foods clean. This might seem inconsistent with dietary restrictions in the Old Testament.
Paradox #2
Deuteronomy 12:23 could be seen as conflicting with dietary practices described in the New Testament, where dietary laws are relaxed or reinterpreted (e.g., Mark 7:18-19). The Old Testament has strict dietary rules, while the New Testament suggests that these rules are no longer necessary for Christians. This could lead to a perceived inconsistency about what is permissible to eat.
Paradox #3
Some people see a contradiction between the advice in Deuteronomy 12:23, which warns against consuming blood, and the broader practice of animal sacrifice in ancient Israelite religion, where blood played a central role. This could seem inconsistent because the same substance forbidden for consumption was used in religious rituals.
Paradox #4
The potential contradiction in that verse could involve the directive about not consuming blood. From a scientific perspective, blood is a source of nutrients, and many cultures throughout history have consumed it without immediate harm. Modern science doesn't specifically forbid eating blood for health reasons, so this directive might seem inconsistent with scientific understanding of nutrition.
Paradox #5
This verse discusses not consuming blood because it is considered to contain life. The moral conflict could arise when comparing this with other biblical allowances for taking life, like in certain sacrificial practices or punishments. It might seem inconsistent that taking life for some religious or judicial purposes is permitted, while consuming blood is prohibited because it represents life.