Leviticus, Chapter 17

Leviticus Chapter 17

Verses 1-16: The Sanctity of Blood

1. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2. Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
3. What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4. And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5. To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
6. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
7. And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8. And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9. And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10. And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
13. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
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.
15. And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16. But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.”

Interpretation: Leviticus 17 emphasizes the sanctity of blood and its significance in the worship and life of the Israelites. The chapter establishes strict regulations concerning the slaughter of animals and the consumption of blood. These laws underscore the belief that life—represented by blood—is sacred and belongs to God. By commanding that sacrifices be made only at the Tabernacle, the text seeks to centralize worship, discourage idolatrous practices, and maintain the purity of religious observances. The prohibition against consuming blood is tied to the concept that blood contains the life force of the flesh and is reserved for making atonement on the altar. This underscores the sacrificial system’s role in atoning for sin and maintaining a covenant relationship with God. The laws against eating blood and the proper handling of the blood of hunted animals reflect a deep respect for life and the divine mandate to treat it with reverence. Furthermore, these instructions highlight the community’s collective responsibility to uphold God’s laws, including the treatment of “the stranger that sojourneth among you,” emphasizing inclusivity and the universal application of these sacred principles. The severe penalties for violating these commands—being “cut off” from the community—illustrate the serious nature of these offenses in the eyes of God and the essential role of obedience in maintaining the holiness and purity of the Israelite community.