What does the Bible say about consuming blood?

Overview

The topic of consuming blood has appeared throughout the pages of Scripture, carrying deep theological and symbolic significance. From early instructions given to Noah, to the specific regulations under the Mosaic Law, and again in the apostolic teachings in the New Testament, readers find a consistent emphasis on refraining from eating or drinking blood. This entry explores the biblical evidence, historical context, and theological reasons for this command, as well as its continuing relevance.

Foundational Principle: The Life Is in the Blood

The primary scriptural teaching underpinning this subject is found in the statement “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11). According to Scripture, blood represents life and thus holds sacred significance.

In the Old Testament, this principle appears in various instructions to separate Israel from pagan practices involving blood consumption. It also underscores the sanctity of atonement, where blood is used in sacrifices to symbolize redemption and a ransoming of life.

Early Instructions in the Noahic Covenant

After the Flood, God blessed Noah and his sons and granted them permission to eat meat. However, He added an explicit prohibition:

“Only you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.” (Genesis 9:4)

This earliest directive laid a universal guideline that predates the Mosaic Law and applies broadly, not only to the Israelites but to all humanity descending from Noah’s family. In archaeological records and ancient texts, there is evidence of societies that treated blood as a sacred element, often ritualistically consumed in pagan worship. The biblical command stands in stark contrast, setting a foundation that blood, as the life-essence, belongs to God.

Mosaic Law and Further Clarifications

During the Exodus and subsequent establishment of God’s covenant with Israel, the prohibition concerning blood became even more specific. Leviticus 17:10–12 states:

“‘If anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats the blood and cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood… Therefore I say to the Israelites, None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner who resides among you eat blood.’”

In this passage:

1. The command is addressed both to native Israelites and to foreigners living among them.

2. The prohibition is tied firmly to the sacrificial system: Blood bears life and is uniquely designated for atonement on the altar.

3. Violating the instruction risked severe consequences, reflecting the seriousness of misusing a sacred element meant for God’s ordained purposes.

Deuteronomy 12:23 reaffirms this reality, saying, “Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the meat.” This echoes the same principle found in Leviticus, placing a high premium on reverence for blood as God’s chosen symbol of atonement and life.

Redemptive and Atonement Significance

The redemptive theme behind blood prohibition runs continuously throughout Scripture. Blood offerings in the Old Testament foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah. In the New Testament, Christ’s atoning death fulfills the symbolism intrinsic to blood. Hebrews 9:22 explains, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

This atoning significance underscores why blood was treated with such respect. The sacrificial system was merely a foreshadowing, culminating in the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). By attributing life-giving power to the blood of Christ, the Bible completes the arc begun in the Old Testament, where blood always remained sacred to God.

The Early Church and Apostolic Teachings

Some might assume that the prohibition vanishes under the New Covenant, but the practice of abstaining from blood continues to be explicitly mentioned in the New Testament. At the Jerusalem Council, the apostles concluded Gentile believers should avoid several practices that would offend Jewish sensitivities or go against God’s specific instructions. Among these, they reiterated the command to abstain from blood:

“But write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood.” (Acts 15:20)

“You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.” (Acts 15:29)

Here, the moral dimension of avoiding blood consumption remains steadfast. Although Gentiles were not bound by the entire Mosaic ceremonial law, they were encouraged to maintain this prohibition both to respect Jewish believers and to uphold the sacred principle running through Scripture: that human beings honor God’s design by refraining from consuming blood.

Practical and Theological Considerations

1. Respect for Sanctity of Life: By setting blood apart, Scripture teaches reverence for life itself. This extends beyond cultural rituals and instills in believers a view that life belongs to God.

2. Unity Among Believers: In the early church, Gentile believers who observed these commands would not become stumbling blocks to their Jewish brothers and sisters.

3. Symbol of Christ’s Atonement: Consuming blood in non-sacrificial circumstances would dishonor the type pointing to Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, wherein His blood alone serves as the true atonement for sin.

4. Health Concerns: Historically, avoiding the consumption of blood also carried potential health benefits. While Scripture’s chief reason is theological and spiritual, some see additional protective wisdom in the command.

Historical and Archaeological Insights

Documents from the Qumran community (part of the Dead Sea Scrolls) indicate strict observance of ritual cleanness. They reflect similar attention to regulations regarding the handling of blood, which aligns with the broad biblical narrative. In non-Israelite ruins, archaeology often reveals evidence of blood-related rituals in idol worship or pagan rites, showcasing the distinctiveness of Israelite commandments safeguarding the sacredness of blood for God alone.

Over the centuries, several Jewish and Christian texts emphasize avoiding blood for reasons both practical and spiritual. Early Christian writers, such as Tertullian in the second century, addressed pagan accusations regarding Christians (including false claims of blood-drinking), underscoring that believers continued to adhere to Scripture’s directives.

Conclusion

From the earliest covenant with Noah to apostolic instructions in the New Testament, Scripture consistently advocates abstaining from consuming blood. The core rationale is that blood symbolizes life—a sacred gift from the Creator. It points ultimately to the sacrificial redemption found in Christ’s blood.

Whether read in light of ancient cultural practices, scientific awareness, or theological significance, the biblical command to avoid consuming blood exemplifies a cohesive message: life belongs to God, and His people are called to honor that holiness. As the apostolic church recognized and practiced, refraining from blood not only upheld spiritual truths but also fostered fellowship among believers.

The teaching remains integral for understanding the broader sweep of God’s redemptive plan, illustrating the seriousness and the sanctity of life paid for by the ultimate shedding of Christ’s blood—securing eternal reconciliation for those who believe.