Leviticus Chapter 17

At a Glance

  • Leviticus 17 shifts the people’s focus from the wilderness camp to the sanctity of offering and proper sacrifice, centralizing worship at the tabernacle.
  • A key theological statement anchors the chapter: the life of the flesh is in the blood, and blood makes atonement for the soul.
  • As the chapter closes, the altar becomes the locus for ordinary worship and personal piety alike.
  • Leviticus 17 belongs to the Priestly source (P) within the Pentateuch, emphasizing centralized worship, purity laws, and sacrificial systems.
  • Literarily, the chapter provides the theology behind the broader sacrificial system introduced in Leviticus 1–7 and ties into the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16.

Leviticus 17 shifts the people’s focus from the wilderness camp to the sanctity of offering and proper sacrifice, centralizing worship at the tabernacle. The chapter begins with a directive: all slaughter of livestock for sacrifice must occur at the entrance to the tent of meeting, not in the open field. The reason is heavy and practical—blood offerings are sacred and tied to the life God gives; mishandling them is a serious breach of covenant fidelity. The Israelites are warned not to sacrifice outside the proper place, to prevent the consumption of blood or offerings in the fields, and to ensure that offerings are brought to the Lord at the tabernacle.

A key theological statement anchors the chapter: the life of the flesh is in the blood, and blood makes atonement for the soul. This establishes the sanctity of blood and the necessity of offering it within the proper liturgical framework. The chapter also condemns participation in pagan sacrifices, prohibiting offerings to “devils” and reaffirming that the Lord alone is to be worshiped. Diet and ritual purity implications follow, emphasizing that blood consumption is forbidden because it represents life and sustenance that belongs to God.

As the chapter closes, the altar becomes the locus for ordinary worship and personal piety alike. Blood is sprinkled on the altar, and the life given through sacrifice is understood as a means to make atonement for the soul. The overarching movement is from scattered, informal sacrifices to a centralized, sanctified system—one that preserves the integrity of worship and the people’s relationship with the holy God.

Leviticus 17 belongs to the Priestly source (P) within the Pentateuch, emphasizing centralized worship, purity laws, and sacrificial systems. The instructions reflect a post-Egyptian wilderness setting where God’s people are learning to relate to Him through prescribed acts at the sanctuary. The shift from field sacrifices to the sanctuary underscores a move toward a covenantal, fixed place of worship that defines Israelite identity.

Literarily, the chapter provides the theology behind the broader sacrificial system introduced in Leviticus 1–7 and ties into the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. It also foreshadows the uniformity and ritual discipline that characterize Levitical law, serving as both instruction and boundary to shape Israel’s worship life.

- Holiness of worship and proper place: Sacrifices must occur at the tabernacle, not in open fields.

- The life-blood motif: The life of the flesh in the blood grounds the atonement process; shedding blood has ritual significance.

- Rejection of pagan practices: A clear boundary against offerings to other deities and practices of the nations.

- God as sole recipient of worship: The Lord’s exclusive claim to sacrifice and devotion shapes ethical and communal life.

- Purity and accountability: The text enforces purity in worship, with the safety and integrity of the community in view.

This chapter invites contemporary readers to consider where, how, and with whom we worship. It emphasizes proper reverence for sacred practices—worship should be conducted in a way that honors God’s revealed will, not in ways that blend with secular or pagan norms. The blood and life motif points to the seriousness of what we value and whom we entrust with our lives—a reminder that life is meaningful and oriented toward God. Christians may translate this into disciplined worship life, integrity in religious practice, and a rejection of hollow ritual. The prohibition against pagan replacements can translate into guarding against syncretism—blending biblical faith with culturally convenient but biblically inconsistent practices. The text also reinforces the moral seriousness of how we treat offerings—our time, talents, and treasures are to be offered to the Lord, with integrity and gratitude.

- Leviticus 1–7 (the basics of offerings)

- Leviticus 16 (Day of Atonement connection)

- Deuteronomy 12 (centralized worship language)

- Hosea 4:11–12 ( critique of offerings without heart)

- Hebrews 9–10 (Christ as fulfillment of sacrifice)

- Jesus (fulfillment of true worship and the heart behind sacrifice)

- Moses (leader establishing covenantal worship norms)

- Paul (theology of worship and sacrifice in Christ)

- Aaron (high priestly role illustrating mediation and ritual purity)

Key Themes

Holiness of worship and proper place: Sacrifices must occur at the tabernacle, not in open fields.The life-blood motif: The life of the flesh in the blood grounds the atonement process; shedding blood has ritual significance.Rejection of pagan practices: A clear boundary against offerings to other deities and practices of the nations.God as sole recipient of worship: The Lord’s exclusive claim to sacrifice and devotion shapes ethical and communal life.

Chapter Text

1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2

Speak 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,

3

What 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,

4

And 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:

5

To 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.

6

And 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.

7

And 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.

8

And 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,

9

And 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.

10

And 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.

11

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.

12

Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.

13

And 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.

14

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.

15

And 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.

16

But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

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