Leviticus 7:26 kjv
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
Leviticus 7:26 nkjv
Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or beast.
Leviticus 7:26 niv
And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal.
Leviticus 7:26 esv
Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places.
Leviticus 7:26 nlt
No matter where you live, you must never consume the blood of any bird or animal.
Leviticus 7 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 9:4 | But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. | Earliest post-Flood prohibition of consuming blood, connecting it to life. |
| Lev 3:17 | It shall be a perpetual statute...ye eat neither fat nor blood. | Establishes the combined fat and blood prohibition as an enduring statute. |
| Lev 7:27 | Whosoever eateth any blood; even that soul shall be cut off from his people. | States the severe consequence (excommunication) for violating the blood prohibition immediately following. |
| Lev 17:10 | I will even set my face against that soul...eateth blood. | God's active opposition and judgment against any who consume blood. |
| Lev 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. | Provides the core theological reason: blood holds life and is for atonement, not consumption. |
| Lev 17:12 | No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger... | Expands the prohibition to include foreigners residing among Israelites. |
| Lev 17:14 | For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life. | Reiterates the fundamental connection between blood and life, solidifying the rationale for the command. |
| Num 35:33 | for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein... | Shows how the shedding of innocent blood defiles, reinforcing blood's sacred nature. |
| Deut 12:16 | Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water. | Command repeated as Israelites prepare to enter the land, showing practical application outside the sanctuary. |
| Deut 12:23 | Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life... | Strong exhortation against consuming blood, linking it again to the principle of life. |
| Deut 15:23 | Thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground... | Another restatement of the command regarding daily meat consumption. |
| 1 Sam 14:32-34 | The people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep...and did eat them with the blood... Saul commanded them to drain. | Illustrates a practical situation where the people broke the law, and leadership intervened. |
| Ezek 33:25 | Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes unto your idols, and shed blood... | Prophetic condemnation of those who combine blood consumption with idolatry and violence. |
| Acts 15:20 | That they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. | The Jerusalem Council's specific ruling for Gentile Christians to avoid blood, maintaining an ethical link to O.T. sanctity of life. |
| Acts 15:29 | That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication... | Reinforcement of the Jerusalem Council's decree to Gentile converts. |
| Acts 21:25 | As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written...from things offered to idols, and from blood... | Confirmation of the council's consistent position shared with Paul regarding Gentile believers. |
| Heb 9:12 | Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. | Christ's superior sacrifice with His own blood, providing ultimate redemption. |
| Heb 9:14 | How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? | Emphasizes the purificatory and cleansing power of Christ's blood for consciences. |
| Heb 9:22 | And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. | Connects the Old Testament practice of blood sacrifice to the principle of forgiveness through blood. |
| Heb 10:19 | Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, | Christ's blood grants believers access and boldness to God's presence. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: | Redemption of believers through the invaluable and sinless blood of Christ. |
| Rev 1:5 | Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, | Christ's active love shown in cleansing believers from sins through His blood. |
Leviticus 7 verses
Leviticus 7 26 Meaning
Leviticus 7:26 states a definitive and universal prohibition against the consumption of any animal blood. This commandment underscores the sanctity of life, which God has decreed resides in the blood, and establishes a clear distinction between the Israelites and surrounding pagan cultures, further emphasizing the purpose of blood for atonement on the altar rather than for human sustenance.
Leviticus 7 26 Context
Leviticus 7:26 is part of the extensive laws concerning offerings and clean and unclean things, particularly following the instructions for the peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering (Lev 7:1-21). Verses 22-27 specifically address the prohibition against eating fat and blood, establishing clear dietary restrictions for the Israelite community. This verse applies the universal prohibition of consuming blood, already mentioned in general terms elsewhere in the Torah, to both fowl and domestic animals, reinforcing its strict and comprehensive nature. The larger context of Leviticus is to instruct the Israelites on how to live as a holy nation, set apart for God, in their daily lives and worship, following God's commands for purity and reverence.
Leviticus 7 26 Word analysis
- Moreover (אךְ 'akh): An emphatic particle, functioning similarly to "indeed" or "only." Its inclusion here strongly emphasizes the importance and binding nature of the ensuing command, drawing particular attention to this specific prohibition within a series of instructions.
- ye shall eat (תּאֹכֵלוּ tōḵēlū): This is the imperfect tense of the verb "to eat," indicating an ongoing, permanent prohibition. It implies not merely a one-time abstention but a continual state of not consuming blood.
- no manner of blood (כָּל־דָּם kol-dām):
- kol (כָּל־): Meaning "all," "any," "every." This makes the prohibition absolute, leaving no room for partial consumption or exceptions based on amount or processing.
- dam (דָּם): The Hebrew word for "blood." Theologically, blood is understood as the carrier of life (נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh, "soul" or "life principle"). This prohibition asserts God's exclusive ownership of life, underscoring that life (represented by blood) belongs to Him alone and is sacred, thus not to be used for common sustenance but reserved for its holy purpose in atonement.
- whether it be of fowl (לָעוֹף la-'ôph): Refers to all birds. The phrase signifies that the prohibition extends beyond land animals to flying creatures. It shows the comprehensiveness of the law, leaving no category of edible animal excluded from the blood prohibition.
- or of beast (וְלַבְּהֵמָה vĕla-b'hēmāh):
- behemah (בְּהֵמָה): Refers generally to domestic quadrupeds or large land animals, often those suitable for food. This encompasses cattle, sheep, and goats, which were primary sources of meat.
- The pairing "fowl or of beast" demonstrates the universal application of the blood ban across common types of consumed animals, signifying God's dominion over all life.
- in any of your dwellings (בְּכֹל מֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם b'kōl mōshbōṯêḵem):
- b'kōl (בְּכֹל): "in all," signifying every single location.
- mōshbōṯêḵem (מֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם): Refers to residences, habitations, or settled places. This crucial phrase broadens the scope of the commandment beyond the sacred Tabernacle grounds to the daily lives of all Israelites in their homes. It emphasizes that the holiness commanded by God applies in private life, making the observance a matter of personal obedience and reverence wherever they might reside. This prevents a compartmentalization of faith, reinforcing the consistent recognition of God's ownership of life in every aspect of their existence.
Leviticus 7 26 Bonus section
- The universality implied by "in any of your dwellings" suggests this command was vital for maintaining ritual purity and spiritual discipline outside the immediate sanctuary environment, integrating holiness into daily living.
- The placement of this verse within the laws concerning offerings for which blood was essential (sin, trespass, peace offerings) underscores the specific sacred purpose of blood – atonement – and its strict separation from common use as food.
- Some scholars point out that draining blood from meat was not only for religious reasons but also had practical benefits regarding hygiene and preservation in ancient climates, though the primary emphasis is always theological.
- The persistence of the prohibition into the New Testament through the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) for Gentile converts shows a recognition of its foundational spiritual and ethical weight, signifying respect for the life principle even under the new covenant, anticipating the supreme value of Christ's blood.
Leviticus 7 26 Commentary
Leviticus 7:26 provides an unambiguous, absolute command against consuming blood from any animal, regardless of whether it's fowl or domestic beast, and emphasizes its applicability in all dwellings, not just cultic spaces. This injunction serves as a foundational declaration of God's sovereignty over all life. Blood, being the seat of life (as per biblical understanding), is therefore sacred and belongs solely to the Creator. Its use is specifically appointed by God for atonement upon the altar, a provision that highlights divine mercy in the face of sin. This dietary law distinguishes the Israelites from their pagan neighbors who often consumed blood in various rituals, some involving divination or idolatrous practices, thereby reinforcing Israel's unique identity as a holy nation set apart for Yahweh. The perpetual nature of this prohibition underscores its enduring moral and theological significance, transcending a mere health regulation. Ultimately, it prefigures the ultimate, perfect atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose shed blood cleanses from all sin and grants eternal life, embodying the true and full meaning of life given for redemption.