Leviticus 17:13
“Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse highlights that covering the blood with earth wasn't just a practical step; it was a way to counter pagan practices where blood was libated to gods or used in ritual feasts. By covering the blood, Israel was reminded of its sacredness, pointing beyond the immediate meal to its ultimate purpose as an atonement on God's altar.
This passage is part of a larger instruction about the sanctity of blood, following laws about bringing sacrifices to the sanctuary. The preceding verses explicitly forbid eating any blood, emphasizing that the life of the flesh is in the blood and it's given for atonement. This verse then extends the prohibition to game caught through hunting, requiring the hunter, whether Israelite or foreigner, to pour out the blood and cover it with earth as a way to respect its sacredness and prevent misuse.
Think about who this law applies to. It's not just for born Israelites, but also for those living among them. What does this tell us about God's heart for inclusion?
A Shared Responsibility
This passage makes it clear: the rules about blood apply to everyone living in the community, whether they were born an Israelite or are a foreigner (stranger) living among them. This wasn't just a law for one group; it was a foundational principle for everyone within God's covenant space.
Hunting seems pretty ordinary, right? But God has a specific command for how to handle the blood of hunted animals. Why such a detailed rule for something taken outside the typical sacrificial system?
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Leviticus 17:13 is available in the Sola app.
Honoring Life's Source
The blood of any animal that could be eaten needed to be handled with respect, even if it was caught through hunting. This was a critical distinction:
This passage shows the immediate consequences of ignoring the law about blood, as the people, in their hunger, ate meat with the blood still in it, leading to guilt and needing atonement.
Ezekiel 24:7The prophet Ezekiel uses the imagery of blood and impurity to describe Jerusalem's sin, highlighting the deep spiritual significance attached to blood that goes beyond just a dietary law.
Acts 15:20This New Testament passage shows how the early church councils applied the Old Testament prohibition against blood, demonstrating its ongoing relevance even after the ceremonial laws were being re-evaluated.
Romans 14:14Paul discusses differing views on what can be eaten among believers, referencing the Old Testament dietary laws and showing how the principle behind the prohibition of blood has a deeper spiritual meaning related to holiness and conscience.
Hebrews 9:22This verse explicitly states that 'without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins,' connecting the Old Testament laws about blood to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ and its atoning power.
gillLeviticus 17:13: "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."
And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you,.... This form of speaking, which is often used in this chapter, is still observed to point out the persons on whom the law is obligatory, Israelites and…
calvinLeviticus 17:10-14: "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, 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.
10.…
This verse highlights that covering the blood with earth wasn't just a practical step; it was a way to counter pagan practices where blood was libated to gods or used in ritual feasts. By covering the blood, Israel was reminded of its sacredness, pointing beyond the immediate meal to its ultimate purpose as an atonement on God's altar.
This passage is part of a larger instruction about the sanctity of blood, following laws about bringing sacrifices to the sanctuary. The preceding verses explicitly forbid eating any blood, emphasizing that the life of the flesh is in the blood and it's given for atonement. This verse then extends the prohibition to game caught through hunting, requiring the hunter, whether Israelite or foreigner, to pour out the blood and cover it with earth as a way to respect its sacredness and prevent misuse.
This passage is part of a larger instruction about the sanctity of blood, following laws about bringing sacrifices to the sanctuary. The preceding verses explicitly forbid eating any blood, emphasizing that the life of the flesh is in the blood and it's given for atonement. This verse then extends the prohibition to game caught through hunting, requiring the hunter, whether Israelite or foreigner, to pour out the blood and cover it with earth as a way to respect its sacredness and prevent misuse.
"“Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth." — This verse highlights that covering the blood with earth wasn't just a practical step; it was a way to counter pagan practices where blood was libated to gods or used in ritual feasts. By covering th…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
