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New King James Version

Leviticus 17:14

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.'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Food;   Sanitation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Blood;   Leprosy;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Proselyte;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Blood;   Food;   Life;   Nature;   Uncleanness;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Life;   Murder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Blood;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Birds of Abomination;   Crimes and Punishments;   Flesh;   Leviticus;   Life;   Pentateuch;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the Old Testament;   Congregation, Assembly;   Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Hexateuch;   Holiness;   Law;   Leviticus;   Priests and Levites;   Sanctification, Sanctify;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Blood;   Blood ;   Circumcision ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Blood;   Proselyte;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Blood;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Peculiarities of the Law of Moses;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crime;   Flesh;   Law in the Old Testament;   Life;   Lord's Supper (Eucharist);   Punishments;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Blood;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ancestor Worship;   Dietary Laws;   Sidra;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life: therefore I said to the children of Yisra'el, "You shall not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off."
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
Indeed, the life of all flesh, its blood, is in its life, so I said to the Israelites, ‘You may not eat the blood of any flesh, because the life of all flesh is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.'
New Century Version
If blood is still in the meat, the animal's life is still in it. So I give this command to the people of Israel: "Don't eat meat that still has blood in it, because the animal's life is in its blood. Anyone who eats blood must be cut off."
New English Translation
for the life of all flesh is its blood. So I have said to the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any living thing because the life of every living thing is its blood—all who eat it will be cut off.
Amplified Bible
"For in regard to the life of all flesh, its blood is [the same] as its life; therefore I said to the Israelites, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off [excluding him from the atonement made for them].'
New American Standard Bible
"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
For ye life of all flesh is his blood, it is ioyned with his life: therefore I sayd vnto the children of Israel, Ye shall eate the blood of no flesh: for the life of al flesh is the blood thereof: whosoeuer eateth it, shalbe cut off.
Legacy Standard Bible
"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.'
Contemporary English Version
The life of every living creature is in its blood. That's why I have forbidden you to eat blood and why I have warned you that anyone who does will no longer belong to my people.
Complete Jewish Bible
For the life of every creature — its blood is its life. Therefore I said to the people of Isra'el, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it will be cut off.'
Darby Translation
for as to the life of all flesh, its blood is the life in it; and I have said unto the children of Israel, Of the blood of no manner of flesh shall ye eat, for the life of all flesh is its blood: whoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Easy-to-Read Version
This is because the life of every kind of animal is in its blood. So I give this command to the Israelites: Don't eat meat that still has blood in it! Whoever eats blood must be separated from their people.
English Standard Version
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.
George Lamsa Translation
For the life of all flesh is the blood thereof; therefore I said to the children of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof; whosoever eats it shall be cut off.
Good News Translation
The life of every living thing is in the blood, and that is why the Lord has told the people of Israel that they shall not eat any meat with blood still in it and that anyone who does so will no longer be considered one of his people.
Christian Standard Bible®
Since the life of every creature is its blood, I have told the Israelites: You are not to eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.
Literal Translation
For it is the life of all flesh; its blood is for its life. And I say to the sons of Israel, You shall not eat blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is in the blood; anyone eating it is cut off.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
for all flesh lyueth in the bloude. And I haue sayde vnto the children of Israel: Ye shall eate the bloude of no body: for the life of all flesh is in his bloude. Who so euer eateth it, shalbe roted out.
American Standard Version
For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with 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.
Bible in Basic English
For the blood is the life of all flesh: and so I have said to the children of Israel, You may not take any sort of blood as food, and any man who does so will be cut of.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the lyfe of the fleshe is the blood of it [ioyned] with his lyfe: therefore I sayde vnto the chyldren of Israel, ye shal eate the blood of no maner of flesh, for the life of all fleshe is the blood therof: whosoeuer eateth it, shalbe cut of.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with 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.
King James Version (1611)
For it is the life of all flesh, the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said vnto the children of Israel, Ye shall not eat the blood of no maner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoeuer eateth it, shalbe cut off.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For the blood of all flesh is its life; and I said to the children of Israel, Ye shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood: every one that eats it shall be destroyed.
English Revised Version
For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with 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.
Berean Standard Bible
For the life of all flesh is its blood. Therefore I have told the Israelites, 'You must not eat the blood of any living thing, because the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for the lijf of ech fleisch is in blood. Wherfor Y seide to the sones of Israel, Ye schulen not ete the blood of ony fleisch, for the lijf of fleisch is in blood, and who euer etith blood, schal perische.
Young's Literal Translation
for [it is] the life of all flesh, its blood is for its life; and I say to the sons of Israel, Blood of any flesh ye do not eat, for the life of all flesh is its blood; any one eating it is cut off.
Update Bible Version
For the soul of all flesh is its blood, which is in its living body. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, You shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the soul of all flesh is its blood: whoever eats it shall be cut off.
Webster's Bible Translation
For [it is] the life of all flesh, the blood of it [is] for the life of it; therefore I said to the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh [is] its blood: whoever eateth it shall be cut off.
World English Bible
For as to the life of all flesh, the blood of it is [all one] with the life of it: therefore I said to the children of Israel, You shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood of it: whoever eats it shall be cut off.
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
"For blood is the life of every living thing. So I said to the people of Israel, ‘Do not eat the blood of any living thing. For the life of every living thing is its blood. Whoever eats it will be cut off.'
New Revised Standard
For the life of every creature—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.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
for, as for the life of all flesh, the blood thereof, for the life thereof, standeth, therefore have I said unto the sons of Israel - Of the blood of no manner of flesh, shall ye partake, For, the life of all flesh is the blood thereof; whoso partaketh thereof, shall be cut off.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For the life of all flesh is in the blood. Therefore I said to the children of Israel: you shall not eat the blood of any flesh at all, because the life of the flesh is in the blood, and whosoever eateth it, shall be cut off.
Revised Standard Version
"For the life of every creature is the blood of it; 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.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.'

Contextual Overview

10 "And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' 12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, "No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.' 13 "Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust; 14 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.' 15 "And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts, whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean. 16 But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Leviticus 17:11, Leviticus 17:12, Genesis 9:4, Deuteronomy 12:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:15 - that soul Leviticus 7:21 - cut off Leviticus 17:4 - be cut off Numbers 9:13 - forbeareth Acts 15:29 - ye abstain

Cross-References

Genesis 17:2
And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
Genesis 17:12
He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.
Genesis 17:20
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 17:21
But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
Genesis 17:24
Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
Genesis 17:26
That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son Ishmael;
Exodus 12:15
Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
Exodus 12:19
For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land.
Exodus 30:33
Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on an outsider, shall be cut off from his people."'
Exodus 30:38
Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For [it is] the life of all flesh,.... Of every animal:

the blood of it [is] for the life thereof; for the production, preservation, and continuance of life; that on which life depends, as Jarchi observes:

therefore I said unto the children of Israel, ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; of beasts or birds, whose flesh was fit for food; but their blood was not to be eaten, for the reasons before given:

for the life of all flesh [is] the blood thereof; which is repeated, that it might be observed and taken notice of, as that in which the force of the reason lay for giving this law:

whosoever eateth it shall be cut off; by death, whether he be an Israelite or a proselyte of righteousness; wherefore if this law was now in force, its penalty also would be continued, whereas it is not, and which shows the abrogation of it. Also :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The prohibition to eat blood is repeated in seven places in the Pentateuch, but in this passage two distinct grounds are given for the prohibition: first, its own nature as the vital fluid; secondly, its consecration in sacrificial worship.

Leviticus 17:11

Rather, For the soul of the flesh is in the blood; and I have ordained it for you upon the altar, to make atonement for your souls, for the blood it is which makes atonement by means of the soul. In the Old Testament there are three words relating to the constitution of man;

(a) “life” as opposed to death Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 30:15;

(b) the “soul” as distinguished from the body; the individual life either in man or beast, whether united to the body during life, or separated from the body after death (compare Genesis 2:7);

(c) the “spirit” as opposed to the flesh Romans 8:6, and as distinguished from the life of the flesh; the highest element in man; that which, in its true condition, holds communion with God. The soul has its abode in the blood as long as life lasts. In Leviticus 17:14, the soul is identified with the blood, as it is in Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:23. That the blood is rightly thus distinguished from all other constituents of the body is acknowledged by the highest authorities in physiology.

“It is the fountain of life (says Harvey), the first to live, and the last to die, and the primary seat of the animal soul; it lives and is nourished of itself, and by no other part of the human body.” John Hunter inferred that it is the seat of life, because all the parts of the frame are formed and nourished from it. “And if (says he) it has not life previous to this operation, it must then acquire it in the act of forming: for we all give our assent to the existence of life in the parts when once formed.” Milne Edwards observes that, “if an animal be bled until it falls into a state of syncope, and the further loss of blood is not prevented, all muscular motion quickly ceases, respiration is suspended, the heart pauses from its action, life is no longer manifested by any outward sign, and death soon becomes inevitable; but if, in this state, the blood of another animal of the same species be injected into the veins of the one to all appearance dead, we see with amazement this inanimate body return to life, gaining accessions of vitality with each new quantity of blood that is introduced, eventual beginning to breathe freely, moving with ease, and finally walking as it was wont to do, and recovering completely.” More or less distinct traces of the recognition of blood as the vehicle of life are found in Greek and Roman writers. The knowledge of the ancients on the subject may indeed have been based on the mere observation that an animal loses its life when it loses its blood: but it may deepen our sense of the wisdom and significance of the Law of Moses to know that the fact which it sets forth so distinctly and consistently, and in such pregnant connection, is so clearly recognized by modern scientific research.

Leviticus 17:14

Rather, For the soul of all flesh is its blood with its soul (i. e. its blood and soul together): therefore spake I to the children of Israel, Ye shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the soul of all flesh is its blood, etc.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Leviticus 17:14. Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh — Independently of the moral reasons given above, we may add,

1. That blood, being highly alkalescent, especially in hot climates, is subject to speedy putrefaction.

2. That it affords a gross nutriment, being very difficult of digestion, so much so that bull's blood was used in ancient times as poison, "Its extreme viscidity rendering it totally indigestible by the powers of the human stomach."

3. It is allowed that when blood was used in this country in great quantities, the scurvy was more frequent than at other times.

4. It appears from history that those nations who lived most on it were very fierce, savage, and barbarous, such as the Scythians, Tartars, Arabs of the desert, the Scandinavians, &c., &c., some of whom drank the blood of their enemies, making cups of their sculls!


 
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