Leviticus 17

1 Then the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] said [to speak, communicate] to Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet], word study 2 “Speak [to communicate, declare] to Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses], his sons [descendants, spiritual leaders], and all [every single one, the entire nation] the Israelites [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob] and tell [say, command, proclaim] them this [the following instruction, the thing that follows] is what [the command, the decree] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] has commanded [given orders, appointed]: word study 3 ‘Anyone [a man, individual] from the house [family, dwelling place] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] who slaughters [kills, sacrifices] an ox [cattle, bull], a lamb [young sheep], or a goat [female goat, she-goat] in the camp [encampment, army] or outside [beyond, outdoors] of it word study 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance [to the doorway, at the gate] to the Tent of Meeting [the tabernacle, the place of divine presence] to present it as an offering [a sacrifice, a gift] to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] before His tabernacle [the dwelling place, the sanctuary]—that man shall incur bloodguilt [be guilty of shedding blood, have blood on his hands]. He has shed blood [poured out life, taken a life] and must be cut off [separated, removed] from among his people [his community, his nation]. word study 5 For this reason [because of God’s instruction, to the end that] the Israelites [sons of Jacob, God’s chosen people] will bring to the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] the sacrifices [peace offerings, voluntary gifts] they have been offering [slaughtering, presenting] in the open fields [the countryside, outside the tabernacle]. They are to bring [even that they may bring them] them to the priest [the spiritual leader, mediator] at the entrance [the doorway, the gate] to the Tent of Meeting [the tabernacle, the place of worship] and offer them as sacrifices of peace [thank offerings, fellowship offerings] to the LORD [the Almighty, the Holy One]. word study 6 The priest [the one who serves God, a mediator] will then sprinkle [scatter, pour] the blood [the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life] on the altar [a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] at the entrance [the doorway, a point of transition] to the Tent of Meeting [the tabernacle, a sacred place of worship] and burn [offer, turn into smoke] the fat [the richest or best part of something] as a pleasing aroma [a sweet savor, a soothing fragrance] to the LORD [Yehovah, the one who is worshiped]. word study 7 They must no longer [cease, stop] offer their sacrifices [to idols, to devils] to the goat demons [hairy, satyr-like creatures, evil spirits] to which they have prostituted [committed fornication, gone a-whoring] themselves. This will be a permanent [everlasting, age-during] statute [ordinance, law] for them for the generations [periods of time, groups of people] to come [that follow, throughout their history].’ word study 8 Tell them that if anyone [any man, a person] from the house [dwelling place, family] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] or any foreigner [sojourner, temporary resident] living among them offers [presents, brings forth] a burnt offering [a sacrifice completely consumed by fire] or a sacrifice [an act of worship, giving to God] word study 9 but does not bring it to the entrance [door] to the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed time, gathering] to sacrifice it to the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], that man [male person, individual] must be cut off [separated, destroyed] from his people [nation, community]. word study 10 If anyone [any man or woman, a person] from the house [family, household, or dwelling place] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] or a foreigner [a sojourner, stranger, or non-Israelite] living among them eats [consumes, devours] any blood [the liquid essential for life], I will set My face [presence, countenance] against that person [soul, individual] and cut him off [separate, exclude] from among his people [nation, community, or family]. word study 11 For the life [vitality, essence] of the flesh [body, mortal nature] is in the blood [the liquid that flows through the body], and I have given [bestowed, provided] it to you to make atonement [expiation, reconciliation] for your souls [inner being, spiritual nature] upon the altar [place of sacrifice, worship]; for it is the blood [life-giving fluid, sacrifice] that makes atonement [covers sin, reconciles] for the soul [inner person, spiritual essence]. word study 12 Therefore I say [thus, in this manner] to the Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob], ‘None [no person, not one] of you may eat [consume, devour] blood [the life-giving fluid], nor may any foreigner [sojourner, stranger] living [residing, dwelling] among you eat [partake of, ingest] blood [the sacred liquid, essence of life].’ word study 13 And if any [male person, individual] Israelite [descendant of Jacob] or foreigner [sojourner, temporary resident] living among them [in their midst] hunts down [pursues, catches] a wild animal [beast, game] or bird [fowl, winged creature] that may be eaten [lawful to consume], he must drain [pour out] its blood [the liquid essential for life] and cover it [hide from view] with dirt [dust, earth]. word study 14 For the life [soul, essence] of all flesh [living beings, creatures] is its blood [the liquid essential for life]. Therefore I have told the Israelites [sons of Israel, God’s chosen people], ‘You must not eat [consume, devour] the blood [life force] of any living thing [creature, being], because the life [soul, essence] of all flesh [living beings, creatures] is its blood [vital fluid]; whoever eats [consumes, devours] it must be cut off [separated, removed, destroyed].’ word study 15 And any person [native or foreigner, whether born in the land or a sojourner], whether native or foreigner, who eats [consumes, devours] anything found dead [a carcass, a lifeless body] or mauled [torn, killed] by wild beasts [ferocious animals] must wash [cleanse, purify] his clothes [garments, outer coverings] and bathe [immerse, wash his body] with water [a source of refreshment, purification], and he will be unclean [defiled, ceremonially impure] until evening [sunset, the end of the day]; then he will be clean [purified, restored to a state of ritual purity]. word study 16 But if he does not [refuse to, fail to] wash his clothes and bathe [cleanse, purify] himself, then he shall bear [lift, carry, be responsible for] his iniquity [sin, moral evil, guilt].” word study