Leviticus 17:14
For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse repeats the reason for the prohibition: "for the life of every creature is its blood." This isn't just a biological fact; it's a profound theological statement emphasizing that life itself is a sacred gift from God, and in the blood, that life is uniquely represented and, as previously stated, designated for atonement.
This passage is part of God's instructions to the Israelites regarding the proper handling of animals, both for sacrifice and for food. Following instructions on how to offer sacrifices and the severe penalty for those who would sacrifice to demons instead, God emphasizes that the lifeblood of any creature is sacred because it represents that creature's life. Therefore, eating blood is forbidden, as it disrespects this sacred connection between blood and life, with a strict consequence for disobedience.
Why was eating blood so strictly forbidden, even for non-Israelites? It all comes down to a profound connection between blood and life itself.
The verse states directly: 'For the life of every creature is its blood.' This isn't just a biological fact; it's a theological one within the ancient Israelite worldview.
The Vital Principle
The blood was understood as the very seat of life, the vehicle that carried the vital force. To consume blood was, in a very real sense, to usurp or defile that life-giving principle.
A Divine Reserve
God declares, 'I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls.' This highlights that the blood wasn't just any life; it was a sacred substance designated for a holy purpose – atonement. By reserving blood for the altar, God set it apart as representing life that belonged to Him and could be offered back to Him for reconciliation.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Leviticus 17:14 is available in the Sola app.
This prohibition extended beyond Israelites. Who else was held to this standard, and what does that tell us about God's intentions?
The command isn't just for the 'people of Israel.' It explicitly includes 'the strangers that sojourn among you.'
Inclusive Command
This shows that the holiness required of Israel was meant to set them apart, but the principles of God's order, like the sanctity of life represented by blood, had broader implications.
Living in God's Household
For foreigners living within Israelite territory, adhering to such fundamental laws demonstrated their respect for the God of Israel and His ways. It was a way of participating, in part, in the covenant community's unique relationship with God, even if they weren't fully Israelite.
The penalty for violating this command was severe. What does 'cut off' signify, and why such a drastic response?
The consequence for eating blood is stark: 'whoever eats it shall be cut off.' This wasn't a minor infraction.
Divine Judgment
'Cut off' (Hebrew: kareh) implies a severe penalty, often interpreted as being expelled from the community or facing premature death by God's direct hand. It signifies a breaking of fellowship, a severing from God's people and His covenant protection.
Upholding Sacredness
This severe consequence underscores the profound importance God placed on the sanctity of life and the proper use of blood. It was a tangible way to reinforce that blood was not to be treated casually, but set apart for God's purposes, especially atonement.
Understand the original words
karath · Hebrew Verb
A legal or spiritual penalty resulting in exclusion from the covenant community. It implies being separated from the blessings of God’s people and, in some contexts, signifies the threat of divine judgment or death.
This passage establishes an early prohibition against eating blood even before the Mosaic Law was given, linking the life of every creature to its blood and setting a foundational principle.
Acts 15:20This New Testament council reaffirms the prohibition against consuming blood for Gentile believers, showing the continued significance of this command, even in a transformed context.
Hebrews 9:22This verse highlights the New Testament understanding that 'without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness,' connecting the Old Testament prohibition of blood to the ultimate atonement found in Christ's sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 10:25Paul's teaching here indicates a shift in practice for believers, suggesting that while some Old Testament food laws are no longer binding, the reasoning behind the blood prohibition points to deeper spiritual truths.
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.…
pooleLeviticus 17:14: "For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off."
No text from Poole on this verse.
The verse repeats the reason for the prohibition: "for the life of every creature is its blood." This isn't just a biological fact; it's a profound theological statement emphasizing that life itself is a sacred gift from God, and in the blood, that life is uniquely represented and, as previously stated, designated for atonement.
This passage is part of God's instructions to the Israelites regarding the proper handling of animals, both for sacrifice and for food. Following instructions on how to offer sacrifices and the severe penalty for those who would sacrifice to demons instead, God emphasizes that the lifeblood of any creature is sacred because it represents that creature's life. Therefore, eating blood is forbidden, as it disrespects this sacred connection between blood and life, with a strict consequence for disobedience.
This passage is part of God's instructions to the Israelites regarding the proper handling of animals, both for sacrifice and for food. Following instructions on how to offer sacrifices and the severe penalty for those who would sacrifice to demons instead, God emphasizes that the lifeblood of any creature is sacred because it represents that creature's life. Therefore, eating blood is forbidden, as it disrespects this sacred connection between blood and life, with a strict consequence for disobedience.
"For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off." — The verse repeats the reason for the prohibition: "for the life of every creature is its blood." This isn't just a biological fact; it's a profound theological statement emphasizing that life itself…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
