Leviticus 17:10-12

Prohibition of Eating Blood, i.e. of eating flesh not properly drained of blood (Genesis 9:4 *). The reason given, that the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), underlies the special importance of the blood in the earlier Chapter s and the whole sacrificial practice. The blood makes atonement, i.e. it is the part of the sacrifice brought into contact, so to speak, with Yahweh, which therefore secures the worshipper's power to approach Yahweh Himself, the main object of the sacrifice. As such, the blood would naturally be dangerous for man; its use would be an invasion of Yahweh's prerogative (cf. the prohibition of fat, Leviticus 3:17). The prohibition of blood has therefore been applied by Jews to all slaughter, in every age (cf. Leviticus 17:13). Disobedience is as dangerous for aliens (Leviticus 17:12) as for Hebrews. Note that Yahweh Himself is felt to cut off the criminal (Leviticus 17:10, contrast Leviticus 17:9), and to provide the ancient taboo as a means of approach to Himself (Leviticus 17:11).