Leviticus 17:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 17:2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
This chapter opens with a reminder that the instructions recorded in this book are from God—not Moses. Notice that Moses remains the primary person through whom the LORD is communicating with His people.
This chapter focuses on the truth that YHWH, the self-Existent Eternal LORD, is the only God and that all sacrifices should be made to Him according to His instructions. It also emphasizes the importance of the blood in light of life and sacrifice.
Leviticus 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
Leviticus 17:4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
Leviticus 17:5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
Leviticus 17:6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Leviticus 17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
Leviticus 17:8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
Leviticus 17:9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
These verses are basically declaring that the people are not to be making sacrifices on their own—either to God or to “devils,” false gods, evil spirits. All sacrifices to God are to be made at the tabernacle through the mediation of the priest according to God’s instructions.
The wording seems to indicate that there were some among the population who were sacrificing to false gods, and God calls it “whoring.” In other words, He considered it to be spiritual adultery—giving to another what rightfully belongs to Him.
Point is made that this instruction had no expiration date.
Any person that disobeyed this directive was to be excommunicated, whether Israeli by birth or living among the people of Israel by choice.
Leviticus 17:10 ¶ And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 17:11 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.
These verses make clear that God defines the life of a person in light of the flow of blood through his being. It is through the blood that He has purposed to provide atonement for the soul. Notice that atonement is for the soul—not the body. The reality of one’s persona is in his spirit, his soul, his eternal being—not his body.
Leviticus 17:12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
Leviticus 17:13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
Leviticus 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
Because of the direct connection between life and the flow of blood, the people of Israel were commanded not to eat blood. Any meat that was eaten was to be drained of its blood and the blood covered with dirt. This directive applied to anyone living among the Israelis, even those only living among them temporarily.
I think it is significant that the blood is directly connected to one’s physical life, but that our eternal life in our resurrected bodies will be bloodless.
1 Corinthians 15:42–44 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
1 Corinthians 15:50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
I believe the implication is that the life of our soul is through the presence of the Holy Spirit. I believe that is how Adam and Eve died when they sinned; they died spiritually. They lost the indwelling Spirit of God that would ultimately lead to their physical death. The blood could only continue to support physical life in a corruptible body for a finite period of time.
The New Bible commentary points out that this section speaks to animals that are not among those acceptable for sacrifice.
Leviticus 17:15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
Leviticus 17:16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
Allowance is made for man to eat the meat of an animal that died naturally or was killed by another animal. One who did so, however, was to wash his clothes and take a bath and was considered unclean until the evening. One who did not wash clothes and being as instructed would suffer the consequences of his sin.
Leviticus 18:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 18:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 18:3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
Leviticus 18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
This chapter opens with God’s declaration to the people of Israel that He is the LORD their God—THE authority that is to be respected and obeyed over and above anyone or anything else. His people are not to live according to the amoral laws and practices learned from the people of Egypt or according to the laws and morals of the people of Canaan. God’s chosen people, the people of Israel, are to live according to the laws and morals He establishes for them. Emphasis is made that those who live according to God’s laws and judgments will promote life and will keep them from suffering the consequences that accompany such disobedience.
Leviticus 18:6 ¶ None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:8 The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.
Leviticus 18:10 The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.
Leviticus 18:11 The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
Leviticus 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.
This whole section sets forth the guidelines for those with whom it is inappropriate to engage in sexual relationships. Until God directed differently, it had been acceptable for even close relatives to mate with one another. Due to the consequences of the physical deterioration of the body and its impact on family genetics as a result of man’s sin, it became necessary for the LORD to establish guidelines that prevented the continued practices of intermarriage with close family members.
The LORD also forbade relationships with relatives by marriage.
The LORD also wanted to make sure that His people not live according to practices that were recognized as being associated with the worship of false gods.
Leviticus 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
Leviticus 18:18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
These verses forbid a man from having a sexual relationship with a mother and her daughter or granddaughter. In God’s eyes, these are close relatives and such relationships wicked.
It was also forbidden to marry sisters (e.g., Leah and Rachel) and create a rival relationship between them. The wording indicates that if your wife dies, you are free to marry her sister.
From the very beginning God made known His purpose for one man-one woman monogamous relationships for life.
Genesis 2:22–24 “And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
We know from the scripture that it was a part of the culture of that time for men to have more than one wife and/or concubines. Such family units always experienced sorrow and/or wickedness that were rooted in such choices (e.g., Abraham, Jacob and King David).
Leviticus 18:19 ¶ Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
This verse forbids a man to have sexual relations with a woman during her menstrual period.
Leviticus 18:20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her.
This verse forbids adultery with your neighbor’s wife.
Leviticus 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
This verse forbids the sacrifice of children to the demon god Molech. It is interesting to note that it also includes a commandment not to profane the name of the LORD. One couldn’t sacrifice to Molech without profaning the name of “thy God.” Whether one chooses to accept it or not, there is only one God, the God of Israel.
Isaiah 44:6 “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me….”
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
This verse forbids homosexuality. God is very clear in His word, no matter how many try to say differently, that homosexuality is sinful. God describes it as morally disgusting (from the Hebrew). This truth is affirmed in the New Testament.
Romans 1:21-27 “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”
The judgment for disobedience is death (as revealed in chapter 20).
Leviticus 20:13 “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
Leviticus 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
Unbelievable that God had to even utter a command against such—This verse forbids sexual relations with animals. I am sure such actions were part and parcel of the worship of demonic false gods. Again, the judgment for disobedience is found in chapter 20.
Leviticus 20:15–16 “And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
Leviticus 18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
Leviticus 18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
Leviticus 18:26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
Leviticus 18:27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
Leviticus 18:28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
This section comes to a close with a warning for the people not to defile themselves by disobeying the commands outlined in these verses. Point is made that it was these types of actions for which the LORD was taking the land away from the Canaanite nations and giving it to Israel. The description is one of a land so filled with the wickedness of the people living there that it vomits out the people in trying to rid itself of poison. Warning is given that disobedience to God’s commands would result in the same consequences for the people of Israel.
Leviticus 18:29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
Leviticus 18:30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.
Anyone caught in disobedience of any of these evil practices was to be “cut off,” and in most instances the penalty was death according to chapter 20.
Again, the emphatic truth—“I am the LORD your God.”