Leviticus 17
World English Bible
WEB1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded: 3Whatever man there is of the house of Israel who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4and hasn’t brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to offer it as an offering to Yahweh before Yahweh’s tabernacle: blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood. That man shall be cut off from among his people. 5This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to Yahweh. 6The priest shall sprinkle the blood on Yahweh’s altar at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 7They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’ 8“You shall say to them, ‘Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to Yahweh, that man shall be cut off from his people. 10“‘Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12Therefore I have said to the children of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who lives as a foreigner among you eat blood.” 13“‘Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, “You shall not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.” 15“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. Then he shall be clean. 16But if he doesn’t wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.’”
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Leviticus Chapter 17 serves as a crucial instruction regarding the proper handling of sacrifices and the significance of blood in the worship of God. The chapter begins with a command from the Lord to Moses, emphasizing that any Israelite who offers a sacrifice must do so at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, ensuring that the act of worship is centralized and conducted in a holy manner. This directive underscores the importance of maintaining a sacred space for worship and the necessity of following God's ordained practices. The chapter highlights that sacrifices made outside this designated place are considered as acts of rebellion against the Lord, which could lead to serious consequences for the individual and the community (#sacrifice, #TentOfMeeting).
Furthermore, the chapter addresses the significance of blood, stating that it is the life of the flesh and must not be consumed. The prohibition against eating blood is rooted in the understanding that blood represents life and is sacred to God. This commandment reinforces the idea that life belongs to God, and the proper respect for blood is essential in the covenant relationship between God and His people. The chapter concludes by reiterating the importance of these laws for the Israelites, as they are to be set apart as a holy nation, distinct from the surrounding nations. Through these regulations, God establishes a framework for worship that reflects His holiness and the seriousness of sin, ultimately pointing to the greater sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and offers eternal life through His own blood (#blood, #holiness, #covenant).
Referenced by
- Deuteronomy 12:23v10Deuteronomy 12:23 commands not to eat blood, as it is the life. This is paralleled in Leviticus 17:10-14, which also prohibits the consumption of blood, emphasizing the sanctity of life.
- Acts 15:19-20v10Acts 15:19-20 outlines prohibitions for Gentile believers, including abstaining from blood, which echoes the dietary laws in Leviticus 17:10-14 regarding the consumption of blood.
- Hebrews 9:22v11Hebrews 9:22 states that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, which is rooted in Leviticus 17:11 where it is declared that blood makes atonement for the soul.
Topics in this chapter
- Worship
- Sacrifice
- Atonement
- Blood
- Holiness
- Idolatry
- Obedience
- Sanctity of Life
- Dietary Laws
- Community
- Covenant
- Faithfulness
- Lawgiver
- Life
- Moses
- Provision
- Sacrifices
- Tabernacle
- Aaron
- Accountability
- Biblical Art
- Biblical Ethics
- Christ-Centered
- Devotion
- Discernment
- Exclusive Worship
- Fellowship
- Forgiveness
- God's Commands
- High Priest
- Hunting
- Law
- Life in the Blood
- Mediator
- Nephesh
- Precision in Biblical Context
- Purity
- Redemption
- Respect
- Respect for Life
- Sacrificial System
- Sanctity
- Soul
- Testing
- The Lord
- Unity
- Wilderness
- Worship God Alone
- Worship Together
Related chapters
- Hebrews 9BloodSacrificesTabernacle
- Deuteronomy 12Dietary LawsBloodSanctity of Life
- Leviticus 7Sacrificial SystemDietary LawsSacrifices
- Leviticus 3Sacrificial SystemDietary LawsBlood
- Exodus 24BloodAaronMediator
- Leviticus 10SanctityBloodAaron
- Hebrews 10SacrificesFellowshipHigh Priest
- Leviticus 8God's CommandsAaronTabernacle
- Leviticus 16AaronTabernacleWilderness
- Acts 15Dietary LawsRespectFellowship
- Exodus 20Sanctity of LifeLawgiverRespect
- Exodus 12Worship TogetherBloodAaron
Your study
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