Leviticus 17
Big idea: Chapter 17 draws the practical conclusion from chapter 16. If all atoning blood belongs at one altar, then slaughter cannot happen in the open field — every animal is brought to the door of the tent, or blood shall be imputed to that man. The reason given is not squeamishness but idolatry: they shall no more sacrifice to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. Then the ban on eating blood is stated with the fullest reason it is ever given in Scripture: for the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls. Even hunted game must have its blood poured out and covered with dust.
Chapter 17 opens the section scholars call the Holiness Code with a boundary about blood. Chapter 18 draws the next one, around the family — and both are framed as the difference between Israel and the nations.
17:1–7 — No slaughtering in the open field
Anyone of the house of Israel who kills a bull, lamb or goat — inside the camp or outside — and has not brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting as an offering, has blood imputed to him; he has shed blood, and shall be cut off from among his people. The purpose is stated: that Israel may bring the sacrifices they were offering in the open field to Yahweh instead, where the priest sprinkles the blood on the altar and burns the fat. And the reason behind that: they shall no more sacrifice to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute.
1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded: 3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4 and hasn’t brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to offer it as an offering to Yahweh before Yahweh’s tabernacle: blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood. That man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to Yahweh. 6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on Yahweh’s altar at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. 7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’
17:8–9 — Or of the strangers among them
The rule is extended explicitly to foreigners living among Israel: any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and doesn't bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, shall be cut off from his people.
8 “You shall say to them, ‘Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to Yahweh, that man shall be cut off from his people.
17:10–16 — The life of the flesh is in the blood
Anyone who eats blood has God's face set against him and is cut off. Then the reason, the fullest given anywhere: for the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. Hunted animals and birds are covered too — pour out the blood and cover it with dust. Eating what dies of itself or is torn requires washing and uncleanness until evening; refusing to wash means bearing your iniquity.
10 “‘Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I have said to the children of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who lives as a foreigner among you eat blood.” 13 “‘Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, “You shall not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.” 15 “‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. Then he shall be clean. 16 But if he doesn’t wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.’”
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).