Leviticus 17:10-11
“If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse reveals that "setting God's face against" someone isn't just anger, but a deliberate, active opposition that leads to being "cut off." It underscores that this isn't just a ritualistic rule; it's about aligning with life itself, which God ordained as sacred and tied to His covenant, not to pagan practices.
This verse comes right after instructions about sacrifices, emphasizing that the blood, given to make atonement, is sacred. God is making it clear that this sanctity extends beyond the altar; no one, whether an Israelite by birth or a foreigner living among them, is allowed to consume any blood because the life it represents is God's. This strict prohibition, carrying the severe penalty of being cut off from the community, underscores the profound significance of blood as the very essence of life, specially consecrated for atonement.
Why such a severe punishment for eating blood? This wasn't just about diet; it was about recognizing what blood represented to God.
The Sanctity of Life
God's command in Leviticus 17:10 isn't arbitrary. The prohibition against eating blood is deeply connected to the understanding that 'the life of the flesh is in the blood' (Leviticus 17:11).
A Divine Gift
Blood wasn't just a biological fluid; it was God's chosen symbol and means for atonement. "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" (Leviticus 17:11).
By eating blood, individuals were essentially disrespecting and appropriating what belonged solely to God for the sacred act of reconciliation. It was a direct challenge to His authority and the means by which His people could be made right with Him.
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When God says 'I will set my face against you,' it's far more than just disapproval. It's a divine declaration of opposition and impending judgment.
The Severity of Divine Anger
The phrase "I will set my face against" is a powerful declaration of God's active opposition. It signifies His deliberate turning away from a person, coupled with an intention to judge and punish.
Targeted Judgment
This wasn't a general, passive displeasure. God's 'face' being set against someone meant He was personally directing His anger and judgment towards that individual. This was especially critical because the act of eating blood could be done in secret, making human justice difficult. God's pronouncement ensured that such hidden transgressions would not escape His notice or His justice.
This strong language underscores the gravity of disrespecting the sacred. It reveals that our actions, even seemingly small ones, can provoke a powerful divine response when they disregard what God has set apart.
What does it truly mean to be 'cut off from among his people'? This consequence speaks to a profound separation, both earthly and eternal.
The Ultimate Consequence
Being "cut off from among his people" is a severe consequence that carries multiple layers of meaning within the Old Testament context.
Social and Spiritual Exile
At its most immediate level, it meant exclusion from the community of Israel. This wasn't just social ostracization; it was a spiritual separation from the covenant people. It implied a loss of rights, protection, and belonging within God's chosen nation.
Divine Judgment and Death
Commentaries suggest this phrase could refer to death by God's hand, either immediately or at some point in the future. It signifies a finality, an irreversible judgment from God. It implies that the person is no longer recognized as part of God's people under His protection and favor.
This ultimate penalty highlights that the prohibition against eating blood was not a minor regulation, but a fundamental aspect of maintaining the purity and sacredness of God's people.
Understand the original words
panim · Hebrew Noun
A posture of God’s determined opposition and judgment against someone, signifying that the individual has incurred divine wrath through disobedience.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The vital principle or animating force that sustains living beings. In biblical theology, life is viewed as a gift from God, and its presence is uniquely associated with blood, which represents the presence of the soul or vital energy within a created being.
dam · Hebrew Noun
The vital fluid of a living creature, containing its life force. Biblically, blood is sacred because it belongs to God; it is the essential instrument for ritual purification and the covering of sin, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.
mizbeah · Hebrew Noun
A structure for sacrifice where offerings are presented to God. It symbolizes the meeting place between God and man, highlighting the necessity of substitutionary sacrifice to address human sin and approach a holy God.
kaphar · Hebrew Verb
The act of covering sin or making reconciliation to restore a broken relationship between God and humanity. In the Old Testament, it involved ritual sacrifices, pointing toward the ultimate atonement provided by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
This passage, predating the Mosaic Law, also prohibits eating blood, indicating it's a foundational principle tied to the sanctity of life from creation. It reinforces that the prohibition in Leviticus isn't just a ceremonial rule but a deeply moral one.
Acts 15:20The New Testament apostles reaffirmed the prohibition against eating blood for Gentile believers, showing its continued relevance beyond the Old Covenant. This highlights the enduring respect for life and the holy representation of blood.
Ezekiel 33:25This prophetic passage directly links the eating of blood to abominable practices and idolatry. It clarifies that this prohibition was not merely about diet but also a critical boundary against spiritual defilement and pagan rituals.
1 Samuel 14:32This incident shows the danger and spiritual consequence of eating blood, even in a moment of desperation for Saul's army. It demonstrates how a seemingly small act could have profound repercussions, reflecting a lack of respect for God's command.
Deuteronomy 12:23This reiterates the prohibition and provides the reason: 'for the blood is the life.' It emphasizes that the blood represents the very lifeblood of the creature, which belongs to God and was set apart for atonement.
bensonLeviticus 17:10: "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."
Leviticus 17:10 . I will set my face — I will be an enemy to him, and execute vengeance upon him immediately; because such persons probably would do this in private, so that the magistrate could not know nor punish it. Write that man undone, for…
gillLeviticus 17:10: "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."
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel,.... That is by birth an Israelite, of every age, sex, or condition, as before: or of the strangers that sojourn among you; proselytes of righteousness, for the following law was only obligatory…
This verse reveals that "setting God's face against" someone isn't just anger, but a deliberate, active opposition that leads to being "cut off." It underscores that this isn't just a ritualistic rule; it's about aligning with life itself, which God ordained as sacred and tied to His covenant, not to pagan practices.
This verse comes right after instructions about sacrifices, emphasizing that the blood, given to make atonement, is sacred. God is making it clear that this sanctity extends beyond the altar; no one, whether an Israelite by birth or a foreigner living among them, is allowed to consume any blood because the life it represents is God's. This strict prohibition, carrying the severe penalty of being cut off from the community, underscores the profound significance of blood as the very essence of life, specially consecrated for atonement.
This verse comes right after instructions about sacrifices, emphasizing that the blood, given to make atonement, is sacred. God is making it clear that this sanctity extends beyond the altar; no one, whether an Israelite by birth or a foreigner living among them, is allowed to consume any blood because the life it represents is God's. This strict prohibition, carrying the severe penalty of being cut off from the community, underscores the profound significance of blood as the very essence of life, specially consecrated for atonement.
"“If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and…" — This verse reveals that "setting God's face against" someone isn't just anger, but a deliberate, active opposition that leads to being "cut off." It underscores that this isn't just a ritualistic rul…
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