Can Jehovah's Witnesses Eat Rare Steak? A Look at Biblical Directives and Myoglobin

The red juice in rare steak is not blood but a protein called myoglobin mixed with water. This scientific fact is crucial for understanding whether Jehovah's Witnesses can eat rare steak, as their beliefs require abstaining from consuming blood, a command found in several key biblical texts.

Quick Summary

Jehovah's Witnesses may eat rare steak because the reddish liquid is myoglobin, not blood. Their abstaining from blood requires proper drainage of an animal at slaughter, not removing every trace.

Key Points

• Myoglobin, Not Blood: The red liquid in rare steak is myoglobin, an oxygen-storing muscle protein, not blood.

• Properly Bled Meat: The biblical command to abstain from blood is met when the animal is properly drained at slaughter, a standard practice in modern butchery.

• Not a Violation: Eating properly bled meat, even when rare and red, does not violate the directive to abstain from blood.

• Personal Conscience: The final decision on eating meat like rare steak rests with each Jehovah's Witness's Bible-trained conscience.

• Avoid Intentional Blood: Jehovah's Witnesses must avoid products where blood is intentionally included as an ingredient, such as blood sausage.

The Biblical Directives Against Consuming Blood

Jehovah's Witnesses adhere to biblical commands regarding blood, viewing it as sacred. This principle is based on several scriptures considered applicable to all mankind and Christians.

Key Scriptural Passages

Important passages for this belief include:

• Genesis 9:4: This text, given to Noah, prohibits eating flesh with its blood, signifying blood's connection to life.
• Leviticus 17:14: Under the Mosaic Law, eating blood was strictly forbidden.
• Acts 15:28, 29: The early Christian governing body reiterated the command to abstain from blood, confirming its relevance for Christians.

The Science of Rare Steak: Myoglobin vs. Blood

After slaughter, animals are bled to remove most blood. The red liquid in rare steak is primarily myoglobin and water. Myoglobin is a muscle protein that gives red meat its color and is not blood. Cooking meat changes myoglobin's color from red to brown.

Application to Rare Steak and Other Meats

Since the red liquid in rare steak is myoglobin and the animal was properly bled, eating it is not considered a violation of the biblical command for Jehovah's Witnesses. The prohibition focuses on the intentional consumption of blood or improperly bled meat, not trace amounts remaining after draining. This is distinct from their stance on blood transfusions, which are seen as a forbidden way of sustaining life with blood.

Practical Considerations for Jehovah's Witnesses

Decisions about meat consumption are guided by personal conscience and biblical principles.

• Properly Bled Meat: Meat from standard sources is generally acceptable due to modern slaughter practices.
• Restaurant Dining: Eating rare steak in a restaurant is acceptable as standard butchering is expected.
• Wild Game: When hunting, a Witness is responsible for properly bleeding the animal.
• Foods with Added Blood: Foods containing added blood, like blood sausage, are avoided.

Comparison Table: Rare Steak vs. Blood Sausage

Feature	Rare Steak	Blood Sausage	Action for a Jehovah's Witness
Red Color	From myoglobin and water.	From intentionally added blood.	Permissible, as the red liquid is not blood.
Preparation	Involves meat from a properly bled animal.	Made with whole blood as a primary ingredient.	Acceptable, provided the animal was properly bled.
Biblical Stance	Does not violate the command to abstain from blood.	Violates the command to abstain from blood.	Prohibited, as it contains blood.

Conclusion

Understanding the distinction between myoglobin in rare steak and actual blood clarifies the matter for Jehovah's Witnesses. The biblical command to abstain from blood requires proper drainage of meat and prohibits the deliberate consumption of blood, not the protein responsible for the red color in properly bled meat. Eating rare steak is a matter for individual conscience, based on this understanding and adherence to the principle of abstaining from blood.

Further Reading

• Jehovah's Witnesses Official Website (JW.ORG) - What Does the Bible Say About Blood Transfusions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses avoid blood in their diet?

Jehovah's Witnesses avoid blood in their diet based on scriptural commands in Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:14, and Acts 15:28, 29. These texts establish that blood represents life and is sacred to God.

Is the liquid in a rare steak blood?

No, the liquid is not blood. The red fluid that comes out of a rare steak is a mixture of water and myoglobin, an iron-rich protein found in muscle tissue.

What is the difference between myoglobin and blood?

Myoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen within muscle cells, while blood is a circulatory fluid containing hemoglobin and other components. An animal's blood is largely removed during the slaughtering process.

Does this belief apply to blood transfusions as well?

Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, viewing the medical procedure as an unacceptable intake of blood, similar to consuming it orally, based on their interpretation of biblical commands.

Are all types of meat permitted for Jehovah's Witnesses?

Yes, as long as the animal has been properly bled. There are no other specific dietary restrictions regarding meat, unlike traditions such as keeping kosher or halal, but meat that was strangled or improperly bled is not suitable.

What about cooked meat that is still pink?

If meat is still pink, it indicates that the myoglobin has not fully changed color due to heat, but this is not a concern as long as the animal was properly bled. The pink color is not from blood.

What if a Jehovah's Witness is unsure if meat has been properly bled?

If a Christian has doubts about whether meat has been properly bled, they can choose to abstain from eating it to maintain a clean conscience, a principle highlighted at Romans 14:23.