Bible Strands
Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses the Israelites and foreign residents among them, giving the rationale for the prohibition on eating blood stated in the surrounding verses (Leviticus 17:10, 12).
The words — נֶ֣פֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) carries both "life" and "soul" in this verse; the claim is that the living being of the flesh resides in the blood, not in the meat.
The thread — Hebrews 9:22 restates the principle ("without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness"), and Romans 3:25 applies it to Christ's blood as the atoning sacrifice.
Why it lands — The verse ties atonement to a material reality—blood as the seat of life—so the reader must hold that God's acceptance of a life for a life is not metaphor but the stated mechanism of the covenant.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For 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.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 9:22 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
- 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Romans 3:25 God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
- Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
- Mark 14:24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
- Genesis 9:4 But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
- Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
- Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
- Hebrews 13:12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.