Leviticus 17 14

Leviticus 17:14 kjv

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.

Leviticus 17:14 nkjv

for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, 'You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.'

Leviticus 17:14 niv

because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, "You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off."

Leviticus 17:14 esv

For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.

Leviticus 17:14 nlt

The 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.

Leviticus 17 verses

Leviticus 17 14 Meaning

Leviticus 17:14 emphatically declares that the "life" (nephesh) of every creature resides in its "blood" (dam). This verse serves as a repeated divine mandate to the people of Israel, strictly forbidding the consumption of blood from any creature. The grave consequence for disobedience is to be "cut off" from the community, highlighting the supreme sanctity and divine ownership of life, symbolized by blood, and its designated use solely for atonement.

Leviticus 17 14 Context

Leviticus 17:14 is found within a chapter that outlines laws regarding the place and proper procedure for sacrifices, particularly emphasizing the sanctity of blood. This chapter builds on the understanding that all life belongs to God and reiterates the ancient prohibition against consuming blood, first established in Gen 9:4 after the flood. The immediate context, specifically Lev 17:11, provides the profound theological reason for the prohibition: blood, containing life, is specifically set apart by God for making atonement. Therefore, consuming it would desecrate its sacred purpose. Historically and culturally, this command served to distinguish Israel from pagan nations, many of whom consumed blood in idolatrous rituals or for perceived magical powers. By forbidding the consumption of blood, God protected His people from idolatry and reminded them of the sacredness of life and His unique claim over it.

Leviticus 17 14 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): Often translated as "for" or "because," indicating the reason or justification for the command that follows.
• the life (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh): A profoundly significant Hebrew term. It means "life," "soul," "self," "being," "living being." It refers to more than just biological existence; it encompasses the animating principle, the vitality, the very essence of a creature's being. It's not just blood itself but the life force it represents.
• of every creature (כָּל־בָּשָׂר - kol-basar): Literally "all flesh" or "every living thing." This specifies that the command applies universally to all animal life. Basar refers to the material aspect of life, connecting it to the living nephesh.
• is its blood (דָּמוֹ הוּא - damo hu): "Its blood is it." A direct and emphatic declaration that blood is the essence of life. Dam refers specifically to blood, the physical manifestation of nephesh.
• its blood is its life (בְּנַפְשׁוֹ כִּי נֶפֶשׁ כָּל־בָּשָׂר דָּמוֹ הוּא - b'naphsho ki nephesh kol-basar damo hu): This phrase is a strong reaffirmation of the initial statement, repeating the core theological truth twice within the verse for emphasis and certainty. Some translations present it as "its blood is its life because the life of every creature is its blood," further intertwining the concepts.
• Therefore I have said (וָאֹמַר - va'omar): This phrase signals a direct divine instruction based on the preceding principle. It conveys the authority and origin of the commandment directly from God.
• to the people of Israel (לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - livne Yisra'el): Designates the specific recipients of this command, making it a covenantal obligation.
• 'You shall not eat (לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ - lo tochelu): A strong negative command, indicating an absolute prohibition.
• the blood of any creature (דַּם כָּל־בָּשָׂר - dam kol-basar): Reaffirms the object of the prohibition – specifically the blood from any living being.
• for the life of every creature is its blood (כִּי נֶפֶשׁ כָּל־בָּשָׂר דָּמוֹ הִיא - ki nephesh kol-basar damo hi): A third repetition of the fundamental reason for the prohibition. The triple declaration underscores the vital importance of this truth.
• whoever eats it shall be cut off (וְכָל־אֹכְלָיו יִכָּרֵת - vechol-ochlav yikaret): This phrase states the severe penalty for violating the command. Yikaret (to be cut off) implies expulsion from the community of Israel, often denoting physical death, divine judgment, or excommunication from covenantal blessings and participation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life.": This repeated declaration is the foundational theological premise. It elevates blood from a mere bodily fluid to a sacred substance, representative of life itself, which ultimately belongs to the Creator. The reiteration is a pedagogical device to etch this profound truth into the minds of the people.
• "Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, 'You shall not eat the blood of any creature...'": This transitions from the theological principle to the specific divine command for Israel. The prohibition is not arbitrary but flows directly from the sacred nature of life and blood. It establishes a boundary for God's covenant people.
• "...for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.": The third affirmation of the principle underscores its ultimate importance, followed by the severe consequence. This highlights the seriousness of defiling something God has declared holy, an act seen as challenging divine authority and defiling the sanctity of life. Being "cut off" signifies a separation from God's presence and people, indicating the gravity of spiritual rebellion.

Leviticus 17 14 Bonus section

• The strict prohibition against consuming blood underscores the value and holiness of all life, even animal life, demonstrating a Creator who values His creation. This contrasts sharply with surrounding pagan cultures where blood might be consumed in chaotic or self-serving rituals.
• The repetitive nature of the verse ("life of every creature is its blood" stated three times) is a rhetorical device emphasizing the command's non-negotiable status and foundational theological importance. This method of reiteration signals a principle fundamental to Israel's identity and worship.
• While Acts 15 instructs Gentile believers to abstain from blood, its reasoning shifts from the ritualistic (though the principle of sanctity remains) towards maintaining peace and fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians, indicating a sensitivity to Jewish traditions concerning blood's sanctity. However, it still maintains the inherent holiness of blood in relation to life.
• The phrase "cut off" (כרת, karat) implies not only exclusion from the community but divine judgment. It can denote premature death, eradication of descendants, or exclusion from all covenant blessings. This highlights that transgressions related to the sacredness of blood were not minor ceremonial infractions but deeply offensive acts against God's established order.
• The shedding of blood, particularly Christ's blood, as a mechanism for cleansing, redemption, and victory in the New Testament is a direct fulfillment and transformation of the Old Testament principles concerning blood, demonstrating a continuous biblical narrative about life, sin, and propitiation.

Leviticus 17 14 Commentary

Leviticus 17:14 serves as a profound theological anchor in the Law, asserting God's absolute ownership over life and its ultimate purpose. The repeated declaration, "the life of every creature is its blood," isn't merely a biological statement but a theological one: life, represented by blood, originates from God and thus belongs to Him. This foundational principle dictates that blood cannot be consumed, because it has been designated by God for the most sacred purpose – atonement, as clarified in the immediately preceding verse (Lev 17:11). Eating blood would be an act of profanity, an affront to the Creator who ordains life and death, and who uniquely provides the means of forgiveness through blood. The penalty of being "cut off" underscores the seriousness of such a transgression, representing a severe breach of covenant relationship with God and separation from His people. This ancient command foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ. The temporary animal sacrifices pointed to a greater shedding of blood, that of Jesus Christ, whose own nephesh (life) poured out in His dam (blood) provides the one perfect and final atonement for all humanity. Thus, while the dietary law about consuming animal blood is not applied in the same ritualistic manner in the New Covenant, the profound principle of the sanctity of life, the shedding of blood for atonement, and Christ's ultimate sacrifice remain central to Christian theology.