Leviticus 3:17

17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither 1fat nor 2blood."

Leviticus 3:17 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 3:17

[It shall be] a perpetual statute for your generations,
&c.] That is, unto the end of the Mosaic dispensation, until the Messiah comes, and his sacrifice is offered up, and his blood is shed, till that time in all generations: and

throughout all your dwellings;
wherever their habitations should be, it is a law to be observed:

that ye eat neither fat nor blood;
the Jewish writers think, that this is not to be restrained to the fat and blood of sacrifices, because these were not offered in their dwellings, but in the tabernacle and temple, and therefore interpret it of fat and blood in general; but what fat and blood are meant may be seen in ( Leviticus 7:23-27 ) the Targum of Jonathan adds,

``but upon the top of the altar it shall be offered to the name of the Lord,''

which seems to restrain it to the sacrifices.

Leviticus 3:17 In-Context

15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.
16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD's.
17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood."

Cross References 2

  • 1. [See ver. 16 above]
  • 2. Leviticus 7:26; Leviticus 17:10, 14; Leviticus 19:26; Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23; Deuteronomy 15:23; 1 Samuel 14:33; Acts 15:20, 29
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.