Leviticus Chapter 17
Showing all 16 verses for Leviticus Chapter 17.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "
"The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:"
God speaks again through Moses, patiently continuing to instruct His people in how to live well together and with Him. Jesus wants you to know that God's guidance is ongoing and patient, never a one-off lecture but a continual, loving conversation meant to shape a good life.
"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, "
"Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites, and tell them: this is what the LORD has commanded."
The instruction is given to Aaron, his sons, and all the people together - no one is exempt or excluded from hearing what matters to God. Jesus speaks to everyone the same way, without favouritism between leaders and ordinary people; His truth is for the whole community together.
"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, "
"Any Israelite who slaughters an ox, lamb, or goat, whether inside or outside the camp,"
Even something as ordinary as slaughtering an animal for food is brought into relationship with God rather than treated as separate from Him. Jesus wants your whole life, even the most mundane daily tasks, brought into relationship with Him rather than kept in a separate compartment from your faith.
"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: "
"and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD before his dwelling place — that person is guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood, and must be cut off from his community."
Bypassing the proper, communal place of offering was treated seriously because it fractured the shared worship life of the whole community. Jesus values the connectedness of His people; He calls you to worship in a way that keeps you joined to others rather than isolating yourself in private practices that pull you away from community.
"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. "
"This is so that the Israelites will bring the sacrifices they've been offering out in the open fields, bringing them instead to the LORD, to the priest, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and offer them as peace offerings to the LORD."
The purpose was to bring people's offerings into one shared place before the LORD, uniting a scattered practice into something communal and consistent. Jesus draws people together rather than letting worship become scattered and disconnected; He wants your devotion joined with others, not isolated.
"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. "
"The priest must splash the blood on the LORD's altar at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and burn the fat as a pleasing aroma to the LORD."
The priest sprinkles the blood and burns the fat as a sweet savour to the LORD - even a practical, everyday act becomes something offered with care and intention towards God. Jesus wants your daily actions to become intentional offerings, done with care rather than carelessness, as though they matter to God because they do.
"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. "
"They must no longer offer their sacrifices to goat-demons, whom they have prostituted themselves after. This is a permanent law for them, generation after generation."
God warns against offering sacrifices to false gods, describing it as spiritual unfaithfulness - He cares deeply about where hearts are truly devoted. Jesus wants your whole devotion, not divided loyalty between Him and lesser things that can never truly satisfy or save you.
"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, "
"Tell them: any Israelite, or any foreigner living among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice"
The instruction applies equally to native Israelite and stranger alike - no separate, lesser standard for the outsider. Jesus includes everyone in His call to right relationship with God, drawing no line between insider and outsider in how much He cares.
"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. "
"and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it to the LORD — that person must be cut off from their people."
Again the warning is repeated for emphasis, showing how much this mattered for keeping the community rightly connected to God together. Jesus repeats what matters most because He wants it to truly sink in - His patient repetition is a sign of how much He cares, not annoyance at having to say it again.
"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. "
"Any Israelite, or foreigner living among them, who eats any blood at all — I will personally turn against that person, and cut them off from their people."
God says plainly He will set His face against anyone who eats blood - strong language showing how seriously He takes what represents life itself. Jesus takes seriously anything that treats life carelessly or disrespectfully; He calls you to honour life, including your own and others', as something sacred.
"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. "
"Because the life of a creature is in its blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives — it is the blood, representing life, that makes atonement."
The reason given is profound: the life is in the blood, and it is given specifically to make atonement - even a dietary rule points towards the deeper truth that life poured out can restore what was broken. Jesus's own life poured out is the ultimate fulfilment of this principle: His blood makes the atonement that every sacrifice before Him could only foreshadow.
"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. "
"That is why I told the Israelites: none of you may eat blood, and no foreigner living among you may eat blood either."
The command is repeated once more for absolute clarity - no ambiguity left about something this important to God. Jesus wants you to be clear, not confused, about what truly matters to Him; He removes ambiguity where He can so you can walk confidently.
"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. "
"Any Israelite, or foreigner among them, who hunts and catches an animal or bird that may be eaten, must pour out its blood and cover it with earth."
Even in hunting for food, the blood is poured out and covered respectfully - reverence for life extended even to situations outside formal worship. Jesus calls you to carry reverence and respect into every part of life, not reserving it only for formal religious moments.
"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. "
"Because the life of every creature is its blood — the blood represents its life. That is why I told the Israelites: you must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off."
The life of all flesh is its blood, and this principle applies universally, to every kind of creature - a consistent respect for life running through the whole created order. Jesus's respect for life is consistent and comprehensive; He calls you to that same wide, consistent reverence rather than caring selectively.
"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. "
"Anyone who eats an animal that died naturally or was killed by another animal, whether native-born or a foreigner, must wash their clothes, bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then they will be clean."
Someone who eats something not properly handled isn't condemned outright, but given a simple, clear path back to cleanness - grace built into even an unintentional mistake. Jesus provides you with a clear way back whenever you've fallen short, even unintentionally; He doesn't leave you stranded in guilt without a path forward.
"But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity. "
"But if that person does not wash their clothes or bathe their body, they will bear responsibility for their guilt."
Only refusing the simple process of washing and cleansing brings lasting consequence - the problem isn't the mistake itself, but refusing the way back that was freely offered. Jesus's grace is always available to you; the only real danger is refusing to receive the forgiveness and restoration He's already provided.