Leviticus 17:10-16

“If anyone of the house of Israel or of the aliens who reside among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood, and will cut that person off from the people.¹ For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you for making atonement for your lives on the altar;² for, as life, it is the blood that makes atonement. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel: 'No person among you shall eat blood, nor shall any alien³ who resides among you eat blood. And anyone of the people of Israel, or of the aliens who reside among them, who hunts down an animal or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.⁴'

For the life of every creature—its blood is its life; therefore I have said to the people of Israel: You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off. All persons, citizens or aliens, who eat what dies of itself or what has been torn by wild animals, shall wash their clothes, and bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening; then they shall be clean.⁵ But if they do not wash themselves or bathe their body, they shall bear their guilt.⁶
1 A strong condemnation.

2 Interesting connection: Blood = Life = Means of Atonement

3 Once again including even foreigners within the restriction.

4 Thus the restriction against eating blood applies even to non-sacrificed animals.

5 So in a way, eating an animal that has died on its own or been killed by other animals isn't strictly forbidden, it merely makes one unclean for a set period of time.

6 Indeed, only if you fail to wash do you bear the guilt.


Take-home: The symbolism of using blood for atonement is described, and is additionally cemented by commanding that no Israelite ever eats blood or uses it in any other way.