Keraia
Leviticus 17

Leviticus 17:13

Laws against Eating Blood · Leviticus 17:10–16
Read Leviticus 17

Translations

Modern
And if any Israelite or foreigner living among them hunts down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten, he must drain its blood and cover it with dirt.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And any man, from the sons of Israel and from the sojourner who is sojourning in your midst, who hunts living game or bird that may be eaten, then he shall pour out its blood, and he shall cover it with dust.
Latin
Homo quicumque de filiis Israël, et de advenis qui peregrinantur apud vos, si venatione atque aucupio ceperit feram, vel avem, quibus vesci licitum est, fundat sanguinem ejus, et operiat illum terra.

Original

Hebrew
English
And if any Israelite or foreigner living among them hunts down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten, he must drain its blood and cover it with dirt.

Notes

Leviticus 17:13

cover it with dirt: This rule stopped hunters from using an animal's blood for food. Like the blood in altar offerings, the blood of wild game also symbolized life. Uncovered blood was a sign of violent crime. Innocent blood defiled the land (Numbers 35:33). It called out to God for justice (Genesis 4:10; see Job 16:18).

Covering the blood of a killed animal gave it a symbolic burial. This showed respect for both the animal's life and for God, the giver of life. The burial showed that the life was returning to God. This was similar to how the priest poured out the blood at the altar during offerings.

Theme notes and profiles

Ancient Law Codes Atonement

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Leviticus, Book of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Topics

Blood of Animals Slain for Good to be Poured on the Earth Blood: Forbidden to be Used As Food Food: Things Prohibited As Food Hunting: Authorized in the Mosaic Law Sanitation: Food