Leviticus 19:26 kjv
Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
Leviticus 19:26 nkjv
'You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying.
Leviticus 19:26 niv
"?'Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. "?'Do not practice divination or seek omens.
Leviticus 19:26 esv
"You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.
Leviticus 19:26 nlt
"Do not eat meat that has not been drained of its blood. "Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft.
Leviticus 19 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:4 | "But you shall not eat flesh with its lifeblood..." | Sacredness of life in blood |
| Lev 7:26-27 | "...you shall not eat any blood, whether of bird or of beast..." | Prohibition on consuming blood |
| Lev 17:10-14 | "For the life of the flesh is in the blood...it is the blood that makes atonement by the life." | Blood for life and atonement |
| Deut 12:16 | "Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth like water." | Blood drainage for sanctity |
| Deut 12:23-25 | "Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life..." | Blood as life, belonging to God |
| 1 Sam 14:32-34 | People sinned by eating meat with blood, King Saul had them bring animals for proper slaughter. | Real-life application of law |
| Acts 15:20 | Apostles urge Gentile converts to abstain "from what has been strangled and from blood." | Continued blood abstention in NT |
| Acts 21:25 | Reaffirmation for Gentiles to abstain "from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood..." | Apostolic reaffirmation |
| Exod 22:18 | "You shall not permit a sorceress to live." | Harsh penalty for witchcraft |
| Deut 18:9-14 | "...shall not be found among you anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens... For whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD." | Comprehensive occult prohibition |
| 2 Ki 17:17 | Israelites engaged in divination, selling themselves to evil. | Sin of apostasy through occult |
| 2 Ki 21:6 | Manasseh practiced sorcery, divination, and consulted mediums. | King's sin, led to judgment |
| Isa 8:19 | "When people tell you to consult mediums and spiritists...should not a people inquire of their God?" | Trust God, not spirits |
| 1 Chr 10:13-14 | Saul's death partly due to consulting a medium instead of God. | Saul's spiritual transgression |
| Jer 27:9-10 | Warns against listening to false prophets, diviners, dreamers. | False prophecy and divination |
| Ezek 13:6-9 | Condemns lying diviners who speak falsely in God's name. | Condemnation of false prophets |
| Mic 5:12 | "And I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no soothsayers." | Prophecy of divine judgment |
| Acts 8:9-11 | Simon the sorcerer believed, later sought to buy spiritual power. | Example of occult conversion |
| Acts 13:6-10 | Elymas the sorcerer opposing Paul, blinded by God. | Divine judgment on sorcery |
| Acts 16:16-18 | Paul casts out a spirit of divination from a slave girl. | Spirit of divination resisted |
| Gal 5:19-21 | "Works of the flesh" include idolatry and sorcery (pharmakeia). | Occult as sin against spirit |
| Rev 21:8 | "But as for the cowardly, the faithless...and sorcerers...their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur." | Final judgment for sorcery |
| Rev 22:15 | "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers..." | Exclusion from God's kingdom |
| Lev 18:3-5 | Do not follow the customs of nations surrounding Israel. | Call to distinctiveness |
| Lev 20:23 | "You must not walk in the customs of the nations I am driving out before you..." | Warning against pagan ways |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" | Command for overall holiness |
Leviticus 19 verses
Leviticus 19 26 Meaning
Leviticus 19:26 delivers three distinct prohibitions crucial for Israel's separation and holiness before God. Firstly, it forbids the consumption of meat with blood, emphasizing the sanctity of life which resides in the blood and belongs to God. Secondly, it outlaws "enchantment" or divination, which refers to pagan practices seeking to gain forbidden knowledge or influence through supernatural means. Thirdly, it prohibits "observing times," or seeking omens, another form of superstitious fortunetelling. These commands serve to distinguish Israel from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, fostering exclusive trust and obedience to the One true God.
Leviticus 19 26 Context
Leviticus 19 is often termed the "Holiness Code" (or H), reflecting God's call for Israel to be set apart as a holy nation, distinct from the pagan cultures around them (Lev 19:2, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy."). The chapter presents a collection of ethical, moral, and religious commands that govern daily life, extending the principles of the Ten Commandments. Verse 26, like other commands in this chapter (e.g., prohibiting mixing different kinds of seed, animals, or fabric in vv. 19), emphasizes separation from defiling pagan practices common in Canaanite culture. The prohibition against consuming blood ensures the reverence for life, aligning with the fact that blood holds atonement. The prohibition against divination and soothsaying directly confronts practices common among surrounding nations who consulted omens, sought communication with spirits, or attempted to manipulate outcomes, practices deeply intertwined with idolatry and a denial of God's sovereign authority and sole right to reveal His will.
Word Analysis
- Ye shall not eat [any thing] with the blood:
- לא תאכלו על הדם (lo' tokhelu 'al ha-dam): "not you-shall-eat upon/over/with the blood."
- דם (dam): Hebrew for "blood." Represents life (Gen 9:4; Lev 17:11). The phrase על הדם (al ha-dam) can mean "over the blood" or "with the blood," likely referring to meat that still contains its blood, which had not been properly drained, or to a specific pagan ritual where blood was consumed with meat or at a ritual feast. The underlying principle is that life belongs to God, and the blood, which signifies life, is sacred and not to be consumed for food but is reserved for atonement on the altar.
- neither shall ye use enchantment,
- לא תנחשו (lo' tnakhashu): "not you-shall-practice-divination."
- From the Hebrew root נחש (nachash), which is related to "snake" and implies whispering or secret practices. This term refers to various forms of divination, omens, augury, or fortune-telling used to gain knowledge of the future or the will of unseen powers outside of divine revelation. It could include observations of natural phenomena, interpreting patterns, or attempting to foresee events through magic.
- nor observe times.
- ולא תעוננו (w'lo' te'onenu): "and not you-shall-practice-soothsaying/omens."
- From the Hebrew root ענן ('anan), meaning "cloud" or "to practice soothsaying/witchcraft," potentially by observing clouds or interpreting auspicious/inauspicious times. It encompasses various magical practices, enchantment, or fortune-telling through the interpretation of signs, such as predicting outcomes based on the flight of birds, celestial alignments, or other perceived omens. It signifies relying on human ingenuity or demonic powers rather than on God for guidance.
- Words-group Analysis:
- The placement of these prohibitions together emphasizes a clear theological boundary. Consuming blood, which represents life given by God for atonement, and seeking supernatural knowledge or influence from sources other than God are both profound rejections of His sovereignty and His unique identity as the Giver of life and the Revealer of truth. These are considered abominations because they defile the people and challenge God's exclusive claim on His covenant people.
Leviticus 19 26 Commentary
Leviticus 19:26 powerfully reiterates Israel's covenant distinctiveness by forbidding practices associated with paganism. The ban on eating blood underscores the sacredness of life, recognizing it as God's exclusive property and appointed for atonement, not for human consumption. This prevents a flippant attitude towards life and acknowledges God's unique power. Simultaneously, the prohibition against divination and soothsaying condemns attempts to access divine knowledge or manipulate reality through means other than direct, trusting dependence on YHWH. These occult practices divert reliance from God to spirits, magic, or chance, implying a lack of faith in God's providence and a rejection of His authoritative Word. They open individuals to deception and spiritual bondage. The verse's core message is an unwavering call to trust God alone for sustenance, wisdom, and guidance, living in genuine holiness that flows from a right relationship with Him.
Bonus SectionThe three prohibitions in Leviticus 19:26 are not arbitrary. They reflect God's comprehensive strategy for preserving the holiness and identity of His people. The consistent emphasis throughout the Torah on avoiding the practices of the surrounding nations underscores that genuine worship of YHWH requires complete disengagement from any form of idolatry or syncretism. Eating blood and engaging in occult practices both blur the lines between devotion to God and the spiritual realms of false deities. In a broader spiritual sense, these commands encourage dependence on God's revelation (e.g., Scripture, prayer, prophetic word through God's true spokespersons) over any human-devised or supernaturally illicit methods for seeking knowledge or control. The warnings against these practices resonate strongly even today, reminding believers to exercise discernment concerning spiritual practices and sources of knowledge, maintaining exclusive loyalty to the one true God.