Another one that never set well with me was eating bone marrow. Since red blood cells are produced from the marrow, why would it be okay to eat the means of production of the blood? Or, it is even acceptable to accept a bone marrow transplant, but not to receive a blood transfusion?
*** Rbi8 Isaiah 25:6 ***
6 And Jehovah of armies will certainly make for all the peoples, in this mountain, a banquet of well-oiled dishes, a banquet of [wine kept on] the dregs, of well-oiled dishes filled with marrow, of [wine kept on] the dregs, filtered.*** it-2 345 Marrow ***
Red marrow plays an important role in the formation of blood.
*** it-2 345 Marrow ***
Animal bone marrow was apparently used for food by the Israelites. (Compare Mic 3:2, 3.) It has a very high nutritional value, being rich in protein, fats, and iron. Jehovah’s banquet for all the peoples, therefore, fittingly includes symbolic “well-oiled dishes filled with marrow.”—Isa 25:6.
*** w84 8/15 31 Do You Remember? ***
• Do the Scriptures classify marrow with blood?
Although red blood cells originate in the marrow, the Scriptures do not classify marrow with blood. Marrow is spoken of like any other flesh that could be eaten. (Isaiah 25:6)—5/15, page 31.
*** w84 5/15 31 Questions From Readers ***
The Bible states clearly that God’s servants must ‘abstain from blood.’ (Acts 15:28, 29; Deuteronomy 12:15, 16) But, since red cells originate in the red bone marrow, do the Scriptures class marrow with blood? No. In fact, animal marrow is spoken of like any other flesh that could be eaten. Isaiah 25:6 says that God will prepare for his people a banquet that includes “well-oiled dishes filled with marrow.” Normal slaughtering and drainage procedures never drain all blood cells from the marrow. Yet once a carcass is drained, then any of the tissue may be eaten, including the marrow.
Of course, marrow used in human marrow transplants is from live donors, and the withdrawn marrow may have some blood with it. Hence, the Christian would have to resolve for himself whether—to him—the bone-marrow graft would amount to simple flesh or would be unbled tissue. Additionally, since a marrow graft is a form of transplant, the Scriptural aspects of human organ transplants should be considered. See “Questions From Readers” in our issue of March 15, 1980.
Let's see, you have to make the choice whether or not to accept possible blood from a marrow transplant and that is okay. But, if you outright accept blood, that is not okay? Do I see more Watchtower double standard and double speak?
