Bible Chapter Summary
Leviticus 17 Summary
Laws on Sacrifice, Blood, and Slaughter
The LORD instructs Moses to command Aaron, his sons, and all Israel that any ox, lamb, or goat slaughtered must be brought to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; failure to do so is treated as bloodguilt and results in being cut off from the people. This requirement centralizes all sacrificial slaughter at the tabernacle, eliminating the illicit practice of offering sacrifices to devils in the open field. The LORD then strictly forbids the eating of blood by both Israelites and resident strangers, grounding this prohibition in the principle that the life of the flesh is in the blood and that blood has been appointed by God to make atonement upon the altar. Finally, anyone who eats an animal that died of itself or was torn by beasts must wash their clothes, bathe, and remain unclean until evening, or else bear their iniquity.
Key themes
Key verses
Leviticus 17:4
“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:”
Leviticus 17:7
“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.”
Leviticus 17:11
“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.”
Leviticus 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.”
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