10 “‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood,(A) and I will cut them off from the people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood,(B) 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.[a](C) 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.”

13 “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth,(D) 14 because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to 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.”(E)

15 “‘Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything(F) found dead or torn by wild animals(G) must wash their clothes and bathe with water,(H) and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening;(I) then they will be clean. 16 But if they do not wash their clothes and bathe themselves, they will be held responsible.(J)’”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 17:11 Or atonement by the life in the blood

Consuming blood forbidden

10 I will oppose the person who consumes blood—whether they are from Israel’s house or from the immigrants who live with you—and I will cut them off from their people. 11 A creature’s life is in the blood. I have provided you the blood to make reconciliation for your lives on the altar, because the blood reconciles by means of the life.[a] 12 That is why I have told the Israelites: No one among you can consume blood, nor can the immigrant who lives with you consume blood.

13 Anyone who hunts any animal or bird that can be eaten—whether the hunter is an Israelite or an immigrant who lives with you—must drain its blood out and cover it with dirt. 14 Again: for every creature’s life, its blood is its life. That is why I have told the Israelites: You must not consume any creature’s blood because every creature’s life is its blood. Anyone who consumes it will be cut off.

Eating meat

15 Anyone, whether citizen or immigrant, who eats an animal that has died naturally or that was killed by another animal, must wash their clothes, bathe in water, and will be unclean until evening. At that time, they will be clean again. 16 If they do not wash or bathe their body, they will be liable to punishment.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 17:11 Or as life