Leviticus 17

Blood for Atonement

1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to Aaron and to his sons and to all the sons of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord has commanded, saying, 3“Anyone from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox, a lamb, or a goat in the camp, or slaughters it outside the camp, 4and 1has not brought it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the 2tabernacle of the Lord, bloodshed is to be counted against that person. He has shed blood, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 5This shall be done so that the sons of Israel will bring their sacrifices which they were sacrificing 3in the open field--so that they will bring them to the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting to the priest, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord. 6The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and 4offer up the fat in smoke as a soothing aroma to the Lord. 7And 5they shall no longer offer their sacrifices to the 6goat demons with which they play the prostitute. This shall be a permanent statute to them throughout their generations.”’

8“Then you shall say to them, ‘Anyone from the house of Israel, or from the strangers who reside among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9and 7does not bring it to the doorway of the tent of meeting to 8offer it to the Lord, that person also shall be cut off from his people.

10‘9And anyone from the house of Israel, or from the strangers who reside among them, who eats any blood, 10I will set My face against that person who eats the blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11For 11the 12life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for 13it is the blood by reason of the 14life that makes atonement.’ 12Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who resides among you eat blood.’ 13So when anyone from the sons of Israel, or from the strangers who reside among them, 15while hunting catches an animal or a bird which may be eaten, 16he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dirt.

14“17For as for the 18life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its 19life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the 20life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’ 15And 21any person who eats an animal which dies or is torn by animals, whether he is a native or a stranger, shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean. 16But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe his body, then 22he shall bear the responsibility for his 23guilt.”