Leviticus 17 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Prohibitions against Eating Blood

Lev 17:1Then the LORD said to Moses,

Lev 17:2“Give the following instructions to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel. This is what the LORD has commanded.

Lev 17:3

Lev 17:3“If any native Israelite sacrifices a bull[fn] or a lamb or a goat anywhere inside or outside the camp

Lev 17:4

Lev 17:4instead of bringing it to the entrance of the Tabernacle[fn] to present it as an offering to the LORD, that person will be as guilty as a murderer.[fn] Such a person has shed blood and will be cut off from the community.

Lev 17:5

Lev 17:5The purpose of this rule is to stop the Israelites from sacrificing animals in the open fields. It will ensure that they bring their sacrifices to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle, so he can present them to the LORD as peace offerings.

Lev 17:6

Lev 17:6Then the priest will be able to splatter the blood against the LORD’s altar at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and he will burn the fat as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Lev 17:7

Lev 17:7The people must no longer be unfaithful to the LORD by offering sacrifices to the goat idols.[fn] This is a permanent law for them, to be observed from generation to generation.

Lev 17:8

Lev 17:8“Give them this command as well. If any native Israelite or foreigner living among you offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice

Lev 17:9

Lev 17:9but does not bring it to the entrance of the Tabernacle to offer it to the LORD, that person will be cut off from the community.

Lev 17:10

Lev 17:10“And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people,

Lev 17:11

Lev 17:11for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD.[fn] It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.

Lev 17:12

Lev 17:12That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood—neither you nor the foreigners living among you.’

Lev 17:13

Lev 17:13“And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you goes hunting and kills an animal or bird that is approved for eating, he must drain its blood and cover it with earth.

Lev 17:14

Lev 17:14The life of every creature is in its blood. That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood, for the life of any creature is in its blood.’ So whoever consumes blood will be cut off from the community.

Lev 17:15

Lev 17:15“And if any native-born Israelites or foreigners eat the meat of an animal that died naturally or was torn up by wild animals, they must wash their clothes and bathe themselves in water. They will remain ceremonially unclean until evening, but then they will be clean.

Lev 17:16

Lev 17:16But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be punished for their sin.”