Leviticus 17:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 17:10-16

We have here, I. A repetition and confirmation of the law against eating blood. We have met with this prohibition twice before in the levitical law (Lev. 3:17; 7:26), besides the place it had in the precepts of Noah, Gen. 9:4. But here, 1. The prohibition is repeated again and again, and reference had to the former laws to this purport (Lev. 17:12): I said to the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood; and again (Lev. 17:14), You shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh. A great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 17:16

But if he wash them not ,.... Neither wash his clothes: nor bathe his flesh; if he is negligent, and does not take care to make use of these ablutions: then he shall bear his iniquity ; his guilt shall remain on him, and he shall suffer the punishment the law exposes him to, either by the hand of God, or the civil magistrate, which is due to persons that enter into the sanctuary in their uncleanness, or eat of holy things. For not washing his body the punishment was cutting off, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-16

The first injunction contained in the chapter ( Leviticus 17:2-7 ) is very generally understood to mean that while the Israelites lived in the wilderness, all animals fit for sacrifices which were slain for food should be so far regarded as sacrifices that they should be brought to the door of the tabernacle and slain in the court, an offering of the blood and fat being made to the Lord. Thus the ordinary slaughtering of domestic animals, it is said, became sanctified, and the dignity of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-16

Grace before meat. Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31 . From the perfect atonement God provides, we are invited next to turn to the morality he requires. And no better beginning can be made than the acknowledgment of God in connection with our food. The beautiful way the Lord secured his own recognition as the bountiful Giver was by enacting that blood, since it is the means used in atonement, must be devoted to no meaner use. Hence it was to be carefully put away, either by the priest at the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-16

Statutes concerning blood. The sacredness of blood is everywhere marked in Scripture. The chapter before us contains some of the more important statutes concerning it. I. IN RESPECT TO THE BLOOD OF SACRIFICE . 1 . It must be brought to the door of the tabernacle. (a) To the blood of those offered at the door of the tabernacle. As a matter of course, the bleed of such sacrifices would be sprinkled and poured out at the altar. (b) To the blood of those also... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:10-16

Atoning death. We have here a repetition of a law which had already been twice delivered ( Leviticus 3:17 ; Leviticus 7:23-26 ). Its full and formal restatement is very significant, and this the more because of the emphatic utterance of Divine displeasure in the event of disobedience. "I will even set my face against that soul … and will cut him off," etc. ( Leviticus 17:10 ). Obviously, the highest importance was attached by God to the observance of this injunction not to eat "any... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:10-16

Leviticus 17:11 , "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." I. THE NATURAL BASIS OF ATONEMENT . 1 . The preciousness of life. The blood is the seat of life. 2 . The exchange of the altar, blood for life, a lower for a higher, requires a supplementary value, which is represented by the altar itself. 3 . The law proclaimed at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 17:15-16

There is still another possible case. The blood of an animal may not have been shed, or not shed in such a way as to make it flow abundantly, as when the animal has died a natural death, or been killed by wild beasts. In this case, as the blood still remains in the body, the flesh may not be eaten without defilement. The defilement may be cleansed by the unclean man washing his clothes and bathing, but if he neglect to do this, he shall bear his iniquity, that is, undergo the consequence... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Leviticus 17:16

Leviticus 17:16. His iniquity The punishment of it, and therefore must offer a sacrifice for it. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Leviticus 17:1-16

Sacredness of blood (17:1-16)The blood ritual of the Day of Atonement shows the importance of animal blood in God’s sight. The blood of the animal signified the death of the animal. Therefore, when Israelites wanted to kill animals from their flocks or herds to obtain meat, they were not to slaughter the animals thoughtlessly, but bring them to the tabernacle altar and kill them as peace offering. Thus, besides getting their meat, they acknowledged God in an act of worship. An additional... read more

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