LEVITICUS 17: UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF "LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD"

Pr Enos Mwakalindile
Jul 29
5 min read

Drawing Near to God: Visit Leviticus, Behold Christ

❓ Why does God say, "life is in the blood"? How does this crucial statement affect our salvation and our daily life of faith

Red paint splatters dramatically across a shiny metallic blue surface, creating a striking contrast and an abstract, dynamic pattern.

🪔 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

In Leviticus 17, we encounter a fundamental commandment to preserve life, or nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ), by respecting blood. Blood is not merely a common fluid; on the contrary, it is the seal of life and fully represents atonement and salvation. This commandment directs us to understand the altar as a sacred place for preserving blood with reverence. It also emphasizes how the blood of Christ opens the way to new life for us.

📖 READ FIRST: LEVITICUS 17 (Verses 1–16)

"You shall not eat or drink any blood; for the life of every creature is its blood. And I have placed that blood on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." (Lev. 17:11)

Questions for Exploration and Study:

What is the significant importance of blood in relation to life, and why is its misuse strictly forbidden
How does the act of placing blood on the altar enable atonement, and what does this reveal about God's plan of reconciliation?

📖 THEOLOGY OF BLOOD AND THE PATH TO ATONEMENT

🩸 Blood and Nefesh: Life, Holiness, and God's Command

Let's begin by examining two profoundly weighty words: "blood" (דָּם) and "nefesh" (נֶפֶשׁ). What exactly do these words signify? In the Scriptures, blood is more than the fluid circulating in the body; rather, it is the seal of life, the essence of life's vital forces. Nefesh holds the meaning of your innermost being—breath, desire, the very essence of life, and even personal identity (Genesis 2:7, Psalm 42:1-2, Deuteronomy 6:5, Proverbs 21:10, and Job 33:4). Leviticus explains the command to protect oneself by preserving blood on the altar. This teaches us that our true value, our entire life, should be protected and honored by returning it to God, its source. This reverence reflects a deep understanding that all life belongs to the Creator, and blood, as its representation, must be treated with unparalleled sanctity.

The strict command not to eat or drink blood (Lev. 17:10) was not merely a dietary law, but a theological declaration about the sanctity of life and God's unique right to make atonement. Violating this command had significant spiritual consequences, as it meant severing the connection with the wellspring of life and defiling oneself. Warnings in the Old Law, such as Deuteronomy 28:53, threatened severe punishment against disobedience to God's order. This point was emphasized again in the teachings of the early Church (Acts 15:20), demonstrating the enduring moral and theological importance of this principle for all believers, both Jews and Gentiles.

📜 From Ancient Shadows to New Completion in Christ

Let's observe how this idea connects with the entire narrative of creation and salvation. Genesis tells us how God breathed the breath of life into man from the dust, giving him a living nefesh. Here, Leviticus 17 explains blood as the place where the soul resides—it is like a fountain of life, showing the inseparable connection between the breath of life and the essence flowing within us. Through this commandment, we gain a covenant document with God: life is sacred because it originates from Him.

In the Old Testament, the price of life was the shed blood of sacrificial animals (Lev. 17:11). This blood represented a life offered to pay for sin that brings death. The altar in the sacred tent was not just a place for religious rituals, but a holy place specifically designated for blood. This act emphasized that life, or nefesh, is consecrated and belongs to God, just as it was from creation when He breathed the breath of life into man. This reverence for life continues to be seen in the New Testament, where believers are called to live lives of inner holiness, setting themselves apart for the Lord (1 Peter 1:2). Our lives are now recognized as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

When we consider forgiveness, we remember Psalm 51:10–12, where the Spirit seeks a pure heart within us, something the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament tried to achieve externally, performing physical purification as a symbol of the need for inner purification. Thus, the blood shed on the altar represented atonement, and it served as a shadow of the new covenant confirmed by the perfect blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:12, 14). His sacrifice on the cross completely fulfilled all the shadows of the Old Testament sacrifices, signifying a major theological shift from animal blood to the Divine Blood with the power to fully save and sanctify (John 6:53–56). Our forgiveness is impossible without the shedding of blood.

📖 SUMMARY AND REFLECTION

Leviticus 17 teaches us that blood is the essence of nefesh (life), and when offered on the altar, it represents the forgiveness of our debt of death owed to sin. The command not to eat blood shows how God honors life, and it leads us to understand that through the blood of Christ, we receive new life.

A thorough examination of Leviticus 17 reveals how the sacrificial system was designed for communion with God. The goal is not destruction, but to foster relationship and preserve the value of the soul within God's plan of atonement and grace.

🧱 LIFE APPLICATIONS

"As we remember the blood of Christ, we realize that every action—from washing hands and speaking with compassion, even planning schedules—can be a sacrifice of nefesh."

🔍 FURTHER REFLECTION

Is there any action you take that demonstrates a disregard for the value of your nefesh?
How can we apply the preservation of the soul (caring for our well-being and that of others) to honor the statement "life is in the blood" in our world today?

👥 FOR STUDY GROUPS

Discuss: How has the atonement by Jesus' blood changed our perspective on self-sacrifice and life?
How can we emulate the purpose of "preserving the nefesh" in our relationships and work?

🙌 CLOSING BLESSING

May the Lord remind us of the value of nefesh through the blood of Christ; may He grant us the grace to live in new life; and may He guide us to make all actions, even the mundane, sacrifices that bring holiness and mercy. Amen.