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Leviticus 17

Leviticus book home•Chapter 17 of 27•16 verses

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Leviticus 17 Overview

Leviticus 17 centralizes sacrificial slaughter at the tabernacle and forbids Israel from sacrificing to devils. It then gives one of Leviticus’ clearest explanations of blood: the life of the flesh is in the blood, and God has given it upon the altar to make atonement for souls. Because of that appointed use, Israel must not eat blood. The chapter also regulates eating animals that die naturally or are torn.

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Before you read Leviticus 17

Coming from

Leviticus 16 described the Day of Atonement and the high priest’s use of sacrificial blood.

In this chapter

The chapter regulates sacrificial slaughter and explains the sacred atoning role of blood.

Leads into

Leviticus 18 turns from sacrificial holiness to sexual holiness and prohibited relationships.

Key understanding

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Israel’s sacrificial worship is centralized so that animals are offered to the LORD rather than to devils.

Truth 2

Blood is treated as sacred because the life of the flesh is in it.

Truth 3

God explicitly says he has given blood upon the altar for atonement.

Truth 4

The prohibition against eating blood is grounded in theology, not merely custom.

Truth 5

Even non-sacrificial carcass situations require attention to ceremonial uncleanness.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Genesis 9 prohibited eating blood after the flood.

Connection 2

Leviticus 3 and 7 had already prohibited eating blood in sacrificial contexts.

Connection 3

Acts 15 includes abstaining from blood in the Jerusalem council’s instructions to Gentile believers.

Connection 4

Hebrews 9 teaches that without shedding of blood is no remission and points to Christ’s superior blood.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

The chapter concerns literal blood and altar atonement; the theological significance should not be reduced to symbolism alone.

Keep this clear 2

Blood itself is not magical; God assigns it an atoning function within the sacrificial covenant.

Keep this clear 3

Animal blood anticipates but does not equal the final efficacy of Christ’s blood.

Keep this clear 4

The prohibition against sacrificing to devils shows that religious sincerity does not make idolatrous worship acceptable.

Read Leviticus 17 watching for…

The requirement to bring sacrifices to the tabernacle.

The reference to sacrifices unto devils.

The phrase “the life of the flesh is in the blood.”

God saying he gave blood upon the altar for atonement.

The repeated prohibition against eating blood.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-7Sacrifices are to be brought to the tabernacle 8-9Sacrificing elsewhere is forbidden 10-14Eating blood is forbidden because the life is in the blood 15-16Uncleanness from eating what died or was torn

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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,

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,

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:

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

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Leviticus 17:14

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