What passage in the bible is it that Jahova's witnesses cite when they refuse blood transfusions?

Answer 1

The Watchtower Society is the legal organization which is used by Jehovah's witnesses.

Their policy of 1961 which they say has not changed, states that:- If you have reason to believe that a certain product contains blood or a blood fraction....if the label says that certain tablets contain haemoglobin..this is from blood...a Christian knows, without asking, that he should avoid such a preparation.

It is wrong to sustain life by administering a transfusion of blood or plasma or red cells or others of the component parts of blood ... the prohibition includes "Any blood at all". according to the law of God.

The part of the bible quoted on cards that most Jehovah's witnesse carry is :- Leviticus 17:14 NW Which in my King James version of the bible states:-

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 not 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.

This relates to sacrifices as blood transfusions were patently not around at the time.

In my opinion if an adult Jehovah's witness wants to commit suicide in this manner, so be it. If he/she lets their child die, they should be charged with murder.

Answer 2

This is a good question and one I've wanted to ask, but the response given by Vot Ana does not apply. Verse 29 of Acts 15 is clearly an admonition to the saints about eating meats offered to idols or drink any of the blood that emanated from those meats. If the Jehovah's Witness religion bases this practice on the verse words of "and from things strangled, . . . " I can only surmise it is a stretch.

Clearly, blood transfusions in biblical times did not exist except for blood letting to reduce fevers and to allow contamination leave the body.

I am curious about further answers from members of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Added note: Certainly, the body is not to be defiled by ingesting substances known to be harmful, hence the Word of Wisdom that active LDS follow. Pure and clean blood taken through transfusion to save a life does not take on the same connotation--in my view--that the Jehovah's Witness religion follows. Regardless, let people believe as they will and allow the same for others.

Meanwhile, let's have a few more thumbs-down here . . .

Answer 3

Their doctrine used to be that blood transfusions WERE allowed but vaccinations and organ transplants WERE NOT allowed. Then the Governing body started to allow vaccinations and organ transplants but stopped allowing blood transfusions!!! confused yet. Then they started allowing parts of blood! and then they allowed every blood part providing that they were separate.!!! So Now they allow all blood parts but not at the same time! In fact , they are so confused by the whole blood thing that there is a new faction that has sprung up in the JWs who say the whole blood ban should now stop and the younger members of the Governing body are starting to agree. This however is too late to save all the people who have already died. There must be someway that the Governing body could be charged with manslaughter over these deaths, I certainly hope so.

Answer 4

Does it matter? The bible was written at least a century and half before the first successful blood transfusion took place. Why do these people subscribe to a book that is; a) mostly fiction and; b) has no bearing on modern life?

Answer 5

Just think if you cannot eat, say for example in a coma, how do they feed you? isnt it same way introvenously. Wouldnt you say that is feeding you? So why query about blood transfusions not the same as eating blood.

Answer 6

Gen 9:4- Only flesh with its soul—its blood—you must not
eat

Acts 15:28, 29- For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”

Check in ANY version of the Bible.

EDIT: In Acts it says to ABSTAIN.... from blood, it doesn't say just from "eating blood" because that would be repetition in the same verse.

Yes, in Bible times transfusions did not exist, but the Scriptures were written aforetime so that its principles could be followed by anyone living in any era in any place in the world. The bottom line is that blood is not being used in a way that the Creator designates, therefore disobeying Him.

Guitarpicker56, tell me, does the Bible mention ;

1) Smoking? No. Is it therefore okay to smoke or take other recreational drugs? No-

2 Corinthians 7:1- Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God’s fear

2) Guns? No. Is it okay therefore to kill with a gun? No-

Deuteronomy 5:17- "You must not murder.”

1 John 3:15- “Everyone who hates his brother is a manslayer, and you know that no manslayer has everlasting life remaining in him.”

3) The morning-after pill? No. Is it okay to abort an egg fertilised just the night before? No-

Exodus 21:22, 23- “And in case men should struggle with each other and they really hurt a pregnant woman and her children do come out but no fatal accident occurs, he is to have damages imposed upon him without fail according to what the owner of the woman may lay upon him; and he must give it through the justices. But if a FATAL accident should occur, then you must give soul for soul."

Psalm 127:3- "Look! Sons are an inheritance from Jehovah;
The fruitage of the belly is a reward."

Psalm 139:16- “Your eyes saw even the embryo of me, and in your book all its parts were down in writing.”

4) Violent video games? No. Is it okay to have some fun watching/playing them? No-

Psalms 11:5- "Jehovah himself examines the righteous one
as well as the wicked one, And anyone loving
violence His soul certainly hates."

5) Dumping of industrial waste into the ocean? No. Is it okay then to pollute the earth this way? No-

Revelation 11:18- "But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to BRING TO RUIN THOSE RUINING THE EARTH"

Bible principles apply in all circumstances in life, no matter what further technology comes about, one can always know whether using it is against God's will or not.

Answer 7

Leviticus 7 verses 26 and 27.... these verses are in reference to animal sacrifice and offerings and the admonition is to NOT EAT blood.... no reference at all to anything else.....they've taken EAT to mean something totally different...as in, to take it into one's body... altho if it were eaten, and digested, it would also be expelled, unlike a transfusion.... it's a sorrowful mess.....

Answer 8

all you guys got stuff so screwed up no one knows what the real message was.