Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Bible > Leviticus > Chapter 17 > Verse 11

◄ Leviticus 17:11 ►

New International Version
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

New Living Translation
for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.

English Standard Version
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Berean Standard Bible
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

New American Standard Bible
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’

NASB 1995
‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’

NASB 1977
‘For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.’

Legacy Standard Bible
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.’

Amplified Bible
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life [which it represents].’

Christian Standard Bible
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.

American Standard Version
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.

Contemporary English Version
Life is in the blood, and I have given you the blood of animals to sacrifice in place of your own.

English Revised Version
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
because blood contains life. I have given this blood to you to make peace with me on the altar. Blood is needed to make peace with me.

Good News Translation
The life of every living thing is in the blood, and that is why the LORD has commanded that all blood be poured out on the altar to take away the people's sins. Blood, which is life, takes away sins.

International Standard Version
because the life of the flesh is in the blood itself, and I myself have given it to you all so that atonement may be made for your souls on the altar, since the blood itself makes atonement through the life that is in it.

Majority Standard Bible
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

NET Bible
for the life of every living thing is in the blood. So I myself have assigned it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives, for the blood makes atonement by means of the life.

New Heart English Bible
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
for the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar, to make atonement for your souls; for it [is] the blood which makes atonement for the soul.

Young's Literal Translation
for the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar, to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood which maketh atonement for the soul.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the soul of the flesh it is in the blood; and I gave it to you upon the altar to expiate for your souls: for the blood shall expiate for the soul.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Because the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you, that you may make atonement with it upon the altar for your souls, and the blood may be for an expiation of the soul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you, so that you may atone with it upon the altar for your souls, and so that the blood may be for an expiation of the soul.

New American Bible
since the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement on the altar for yourselves, because it is the blood as life that makes atonement.

New Revised Standard Version
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; for, as life, it is the blood that makes atonement.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
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 yourselves; for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because the life of the flesh is the blood and I have given it to you on the altar for an atonement of your souls, because the blood is atoning for the soul.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the life of flesh is its blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for its blood shall make atonement for the soul.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Eating of Blood Forbidden
10If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people. 11For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. 12Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood.’…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Romans 3:25
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

John 6:53-56
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. / Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. / For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink. ...

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Colossians 1:20
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Exodus 12:13
The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Genesis 9:4
But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

Deuteronomy 12:23
Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.

Numbers 19:2-4
“This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer that has no defect and has never been placed under a yoke. / Give it to Eleazar the priest, and he will have it brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. / Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting.

Treasury of Scripture

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you on the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.

Ecclesiastes 12:6
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

Leviticus 17:14
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.

I have

Leviticus 8:15
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.

Leviticus 16:11,14-19
And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: …

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

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Leviticus 17

1. The blood of slain beasts must be offered to the Lord at the tabernacle door
7. They must not offer to idols
10. All eating of blood is forbidden
15. and of all that dies by itself, or is torn

Berean Study Bible

For the life of the flesh
The Hebrew word for "life" here is "nephesh," which can also mean "soul" or "being." This word emphasizes the intrinsic connection between life and the physical body, or "flesh" ("basar" in Hebrew). In the ancient Near Eastern context, life was understood as a holistic concept, where the physical and spiritual were intertwined. This phrase underscores the sanctity of life as ordained by God, reminding us that life is a divine gift, sustained by His will.

is in the blood
The Hebrew term "dam" for "blood" is central to the sacrificial system in the Old Testament. Blood symbolizes life itself, as it is the vital fluid that sustains the body. In ancient Israel, blood was not merely a physical substance but a sacred element that represented the essence of life. This understanding is foundational to the sacrificial practices, where blood is seen as the means of atonement and purification.

and I have given it to you on the altar
The phrase "I have given" indicates divine provision and authority. The altar, "mizbeach" in Hebrew, was the designated place for sacrifices, symbolizing God's presence and the meeting point between the divine and human realms. This provision of blood on the altar signifies God's initiative in establishing a means for reconciliation and communion with His people.

to make atonement for your souls
The Hebrew word for "atonement" is "kaphar," which means to cover or to make reconciliation. This concept is central to the sacrificial system, where the shedding of blood serves as a covering for sin, allowing for the restoration of the relationship between God and humanity. The "soul" or "nephesh" here emphasizes the depth of atonement, addressing the spiritual and moral aspects of human existence.

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul
This reiteration highlights the unique role of blood in the atonement process. The sacrificial system foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the redemption of humanity. In the New Testament, this concept is fulfilled in Christ's atoning work on the cross, where His blood becomes the means of eternal reconciliation with God. This verse, therefore, points to the profound theological truth that life, sacrifice, and redemption are intricately connected through the divine provision of blood.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood.--Better, for the soul of the flesh is in the blood. The word here rendered "life" in the Authorised Version occurs twice more in this very verse, and is in both instances properly translated soul. Though it is immaterial whether the word in question is translated life or soul, it is essential that it should be rendered uniformly throughout the passage. By translating it differently in the first clause, the Authorised Version has unnecessarily increased the difficulty of the verse. This clause assigns the reason why blood must not be eaten. It is the principle of vitality, it constitutes the soul of animal life. Hence blood and life are used interchangeably in the Scriptures. Thus, when the Psalmist exclaims, "what profit is there in my blood" (Psalm 30:9), he uses it for life.

I have given it to you upon the altar.--For the sake of emphasis, the words in the original denoting "upon the altar" are placed first in the Hebrew, and the Authorised Version follows this order. It is however better to translate this clause, For I have ordained it upon the altar to make atonement for your souls. Because it is the principle of life, therefore God has ordained it to be offered upon the altar as an expiation for the offerer's life.

For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.--Better, for it is the blood that maketh atonement by means of the soul. As the blood of the victim is identical with its life, and represents the soul of the animal, hence God has appointed it as a substitute for the sinner's life. Thus the life of the sacrifice atones for the life of the offerer. Hence the remark of the Apostle, "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the life
נֶ֣פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

of a creature
הַבָּשָׂר֮ (hab·bā·śār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

is in the blood,
בַּדָּ֣ם (bad·dām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

and I
וַאֲנִ֞י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

have given it
נְתַתִּ֤יו (nə·ṯat·tîw)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to you
לָכֶם֙ (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

to make an atonement
לְכַפֵּ֖ר (lə·ḵap·pêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

for
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your souls
נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם (nap̄·šō·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the altar,
הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

since
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it
הִוא֒ (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is the lifeblood
הַדָּ֥ם (had·dām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

that makes atonement.
יְכַפֵּֽר׃ (yə·ḵap·pêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3722: To cover, to expiate, condone, to placate, cancel

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OT Law: Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh (Le Lv Lev.)