Chapter 17
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
3What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
5To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
6And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
7And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
8And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11For 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.
12Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
13And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14For 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.
15And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
“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.”
Overview
God commands that all animal slaughter for sacrifice must take place at the tabernacle door, not in the open field, to prevent Israel from sacrificing to demons ('devils') or goat idols. He also gives the foundational prohibition against eating blood, declaring that 'the life of the flesh is in the blood' and that blood has been given upon the altar to make atonement for the soul.
Key Themes
Centralized Worship at God's Appointed Place
By requiring all sacrifices to be brought to the tabernacle, God eliminates unauthorized worship and ensures that all offerings are made in His presence and under priestly oversight.
The Life Is in the Blood
God reveals the theological basis for blood atonement — life resides in the blood, and it is the giving of life that makes atonement for the soul.
The Prohibition Against Idolatrous Sacrifice
Israel must not sacrifice in the open fields as they did in Egypt, lest they fall into demon worship — separation from past idolatry requires new habits of worship.
Study Questions
Why does God insist that all sacrifices be brought to the tabernacle rather than offered in the open field?
What does the statement 'the life of the flesh is in the blood' (v. 11) teach about why God requires blood for atonement?
How does the prohibition against eating blood distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations and their religious practices?
What does the reference to sacrificing to 'devils' (v. 7) reveal about the spiritual reality behind pagan worship?
How does this chapter's teaching about blood atonement lay the theological foundation for understanding the cross of Christ?
Connection to Christ
The declaration that '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' is the theological key to Calvary. Christ's blood — His very life — was poured out as the final, sufficient atonement for sin (Hebrews 9:22).
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Leviticus 17. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?