Updated January 21, 2025
Leviticus 17 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying,
3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord.
6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
Leviticus Chapter 17 (Old Testament)
7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
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.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and 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.
12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
Leviticus 17 (Old Testament)
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.
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.
15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration + Meaning | Verse + Snippet | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|
| זֶבַח — zevaḥ — “sacrifice” | Verse 5 — “bring them unto the Lord…” | Zevaḥ centers worship in the sanctuary. Unauthorized sacrifices fracture covenant structure. Keil highlights centralization of worship. — C. F. Keil, Pentateuch Commentary |
| דָּם — dām — “blood” | Verse 11 — “the life of the flesh is in the blood…” | Dām represents life itself. Its sacredness grounds atonement theology. Delitzsch calls this verse a cornerstone of biblical sacrifice. — Franz Delitzsch, Pentateuch Commentary |
| נֶפֶשׁ — nefesh — “life, soul” | Verse 11 — “for the life of the flesh…” | Nefesh stresses the animating life-force. Blood embodies nefesh symbolically. Driver affirms its anthropological depth. — S. R. Driver, OT Literature |
| כִּפֶּר — kipper — “make atonement” | Verse 11 — “to make atonement for your souls…” | Kipper indicates substitution whereby life covers life. The rite restores divine-human fellowship. Keil notes its unique theological weight. — C. F. Keil, Pentateuch Commentary |
| שָׂדֶה — sādeh — “field, open country” | Verse 5 — “in the open field…” | Sādeh stresses improper decentralization of sacrifices. Worship must remain centralized. Delitzsch ties this to eliminating pagan practice. — Franz Delitzsch, Pentateuch Commentary |
| עֹלָה — ‘olah — “burnt offering” | Verse 8 — “offer a burnt offering…” | ‘Olah signifies complete ascension offering. Its total burning symbolizes total devotion. Driver observes its role in worship hierarchy. — S. R. Driver, OT Literature |
| שָׂעִיר — sa‘ir — “goat, he-goat” | Verse 7 — “offer their sacrifices unto devils (goat-demons)…” | Sa‘ir links to pagan goat-demon worship. Israel must avoid syncretism. Keil clarifies its Canaanite associations. — C. F. Keil, Pentateuch Commentary |
| עַוֹן — ‘avon — “iniquity” | Verse 16 — “bear his iniquity…” | ‘Avon connotes guilt and its consequences. Ritual neglect incurs liability. Delitzsch underscores moral responsibility. — Franz Delitzsch, Pentateuch Commentary |
| נִדָּה — niddāh — “impurity” | Verse 15 — “unclean beast…” | Niddāh expresses ritual impurity requiring cleansing. The term signifies distance from holiness. Driver stresses its symbolic weight. — S. R. Driver, OT Literature |
| רָחַץ — rāḥaṣ — “wash” | Verse 15 — “wash his clothes…” | Rāḥaṣ restores purity through symbolic cleansing. Washing marks transition from defilement to acceptance. Keil affirms its covenant meaning. — C. F. Keil, Pentateuch Commentary |
Leviticus Chapter 17
Verse: Leviticus 17:11 - "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life."
Lesson: Leviticus Chapter 17 outlines regulations for the proper handling of blood and emphasizes the importance of blood in making atonement for sin. The verse above reminds us that the life of a creature is in its blood and that blood is the means by which atonement is made for sin.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
Conclusion: The regulations for the handling of blood were a reminder to the Israelites of the importance of blood in making atonement for sin. As Christians, we must also recognize the significance of the blood of Jesus in making atonement for our sins and bringing us into a right relationship with God.
Prayer points: Thank God for the blood of Jesus that has made atonement for your sins. Pray for a deeper appreciation and understanding of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Pray for the strength and courage to live a life that honors the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
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