Leviticus 17:11-16

11 'For ¹the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for ²it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.'

12 "Therefore * I said to the sons of Israel, 'No * person among you may eat blood, nor may any alien who sojourns among you eat blood.'

13 "So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, ³he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.

14 "⁴For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.'

15 "⁵When any person eats an animal which dies or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or an alien, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean.

16 "But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then ⁶he shall bear his guilt."

Leviticus 17:11-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 17

In this chapter a law is given, ordering all sorts of persons, Israelites and sojourners, to bring their sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, on pain of being cut off, Le 17:1-9; and a special and particular prohibition of sacrificing to devils is delivered out, Le 17:7; and the eating of blood, and of everything that dies of itself, or is torn with beasts, is forbidden under the above penalty, Le 17:10-16.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:14
• 2. Hebrews 9:22
• 3. Deuteronomy 12:16
• 4. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11
• 5. Exodus 22:31; Leviticus 7:24; Leviticus 22:8; Deuteronomy 14:21
• 6. Numbers 19:20

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "soul"
• [b] Lit "soul"
• [c] Lit "who in hunting"
• [d] Lit "soul"
• [e] Lit "soul"
• [f] Lit "soul"
• [g] Or "iniquity"