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

Eating Blood Prohibited

10 “If anyone of the house of Israel or of the aliens who reside among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut that person off from the people.(A) 11 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.(B) 12 Therefore I have said to the Israelites, ‘No person among you shall eat blood, nor shall any alien who resides among you eat blood.’

13 “And anyone of the Israelites or of the aliens who reside among them who hunts down an animal or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.(C) 14 For the life of every creature—its blood is its life; therefore I have said to the Israelites, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’(D) 15 All persons, native-born or alien, who eat what dies of itself or what has been torn by wild animals shall wash their clothes and bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening; then they shall be clean.(E) 16 But if they do not wash themselves or bathe their body, they shall bear their guilt.”

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