Leviticus 17:10 - “‘Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
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What does "Leviticus 17:10" mean?
Leviticus 17:10 is a very strong prohibition against consuming blood, and it lays out the consequences for doing so. Let's break it down:
"Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them..." This makes it clear that the law applies not only to Israelites (Jewish people) but also to any non-Israelites living in their community. This emphasizes the universality of the prohibition within the sphere of Israelite influence.
"...who eats any kind of blood..." This is a blanket statement against eating blood, regardless of the source or type.
"...I will set my face against that soul who eats blood..." This is a powerful expression of divine displeasure. To have God "set his face against" someone meant a loss of favor, protection, and blessing. It indicates God's direct and active disapproval.
"...and will cut him off from among his people." This is a severe punishment. "Cut off" (karet in Hebrew) has various interpretations, ranging from excommunication from the community to premature death or being denied descendants. It signifies complete separation from the covenant community and its blessings.
In essence, the verse means:
God commands that no one, whether Israelite or foreigner living among them, should consume blood of any kind. If they do, God will be directly and severely opposed to them and will remove them from the community of Israel.
Why this prohibition?
The rationale for this prohibition is given earlier in Leviticus 17. Blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11), and life belongs to God. The blood of animals was to be used only for atonement rituals on the altar, not for human consumption. To eat blood would be to disrespect the sacredness of life and the atoning purpose of blood sacrifices.
Important Considerations:
Context: This verse is part of the Old Testament Law, specifically the Levitical Law, given to the ancient Israelites.
Interpretations: Different religious and cultural groups have varying interpretations of this verse and its applicability today. Some understand it as a permanent prohibition, while others believe it was specific to the Old Covenant and not binding on Christians.
Modern Relevance: While blood transfusions are sometimes cited in discussions of this verse, the original context of the verse is about consuming blood as food.
Leviticus 17:10 - “‘Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
What does "Leviticus 17:10" mean?
Leviticus 17:10 is a very strong prohibition against consuming blood, and it lays out the consequences for doing so. Let's break it down:
"Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them..." This makes it clear that the law applies not only to Israelites (Jewish people) but also to any non-Israelites living in their community. This emphasizes the universality of the prohibition within the sphere of Israelite influence.
"...who eats any kind of blood..." This is a blanket statement against eating blood, regardless of the source or type.
"...I will set my face against that soul who eats blood..." This is a powerful expression of divine displeasure. To have God "set his face against" someone meant a loss of favor, protection, and blessing. It indicates God's direct and active disapproval.
"...and will cut him off from among his people." This is a severe punishment. "Cut off" (karet in Hebrew) has various interpretations, ranging from excommunication from the community to premature death or being denied descendants. It signifies complete separation from the covenant community and its blessings.
In essence, the verse means:
God commands that no one, whether Israelite or foreigner living among them, should consume blood of any kind. If they do, God will be directly and severely opposed to them and will remove them from the community of Israel.
Why this prohibition?
The rationale for this prohibition is given earlier in Leviticus 17. Blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11), and life belongs to God. The blood of animals was to be used only for atonement rituals on the altar, not for human consumption. To eat blood would be to disrespect the sacredness of life and the atoning purpose of blood sacrifices.
Important Considerations:
Context: This verse is part of the Old Testament Law, specifically the Levitical Law, given to the ancient Israelites.
Interpretations: Different religious and cultural groups have varying interpretations of this verse and its applicability today. Some understand it as a permanent prohibition, while others believe it was specific to the Old Covenant and not binding on Christians.
Modern Relevance: While blood transfusions are sometimes cited in discussions of this verse, the original context of the verse is about consuming blood as food.