Blood

Blood - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

(1.) As food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14. The injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:29). It has been held by some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still binding on all. Blood was eaten by the Israelites after the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 14:32-34).

(2.) The blood of sacrifices was caught by the priest in a basin, and then sprinkled seven times on the altar; that of the passover on the doorposts and lintels of the houses (Ex. 12; Lev. 4:5-7; 16:14-19). At the giving of the law (Ex. 24:8) the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled on the people as well as on the altar, and thus the people were consecrated to God, or entered into covenant with him, hence the blood of the covenant (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:19, 20; 10:29; 13:20).

(3.) Human blood. The murderer was to be punished (Gen. 9:5). The blood of the murdered "crieth for vengeance" (Gen. 4:10). The "avenger of blood" was the nearest relative of the murdered, and he was required to avenge his death (Num. 35:24, 27). No satisfaction could be made for the guilt of murder (Num. 35:31).

(4.) Blood used metaphorically to denote race (Acts 17:26), and as a symbol of slaughter (Isa. 34:3). To "wash the feet in blood" means to gain a great victory (Ps. 58:10). Wine, from its red colour, is called "the blood of the grape" (Gen. 49:11). Blood and water issued from our Saviour's side when it was pierced by the Roman soldier (John 19:34). This has led pathologists to the conclusion that the proper cause of Christ's death was rupture of the heart. (Comp. Ps. 69:20.)

Blood - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

BLOOD, n.

1. The fluid which circulates through the arteries and veins of the human body, and of other animals,which is essential to the preservation of life. This fluid is generally red. If the blood of an animal is not red, such animal is called exsanguious, or white-blooded; the blood being white, or white tinged with blue.

2. Kindred; relation by natural descent from a common ancestor; consanguinity.

God hath made of one blood, all nations of the earth. Acts 17.

3. Royal lineage; blood royal; as a prince of the blood.

4. Honorable birth; high extraction; as a gentleman of blood.

5. Life.

Shall I not require his blood at your hands? 2 Sam 4.

6. Slaughter; murder, or bloodshedding.

I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu. Hosea 1.

The voice of thy brother's blood crieth to me from the ground. Gen 4.

7. Guilt, and punishment.

Your blood be upon your own heads. Acts 18.

8. Fleshly nature;; the carnal part of man; as opposed to spiritual nature,or divine life.

Who were born, not of flesh and blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1.

9. Man, or human wisdom, or reason.

Flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee,but my Father who is in heaven. Mat 16.

10. A sacramental symbol of the blood of Christ.

This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for the remission of sins. Mat 26.

11. The death and sufferings of Christ.

Being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Rom 5:3.

12. The price of blood; that which is obtained by shedding blood,and seizing goods.

Wo to him that buildeth a town with blood. Hab 2. Acts 1.

13. Temper of mind; state of the passions; but in this sense, accompanied with cold or warm, or other qualifying word. Thus to commit an act in cold blood, is to do it deliberately, and without sudden passion. Warm blood denotes a temper inflamed or irritated; to warm or head the blood, is to excite the passions.

14. A hot spark; a man of fire or spirit; a rake.

15. The juice of any thing, especially if red; as, ""the blood of grapes."" Gen 49.

Whole blood. In law, a kinsman of the whole blood is one who descends from the same couple of ancestors; of the half blood, one who descends from either of them singly, by a second marriage.

BLOOD, v.t. To let blood; to bleed by opening a vein.

1. To stain with blood.

2. To enter; to inure to blood; as a hound.

3. To heat the blood; to exasperate. [Unusual.]