Lev 17 | HCSB | STEP | The Lord spoke to Moses :

‏ Leviticus 17

Forbidden Sacrifices

1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites and tell them: This is what the Lord has commanded: 3 Anyone from the house of Israel who slaughters ^a an ox, sheep, or goat in the camp, or slaughters it outside the camp, 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord before His tabernacle – that person will be considered ^{▼▼guilt/guilty: The liability to be punished for a fault, a sin, an act, or an omission unless there is forgiveness or atonement; the term normally concerns an objective fact, not a subjective feeling.}guilty. ^{▼▼Lit tabernacle – blood will be charged against that person
,} ^d He has shed blood ^e and must be cut off from his people. ^f 5 This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices ^g they have been offering in the open country. They are to bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting and offer them as ^{▼▼fellowship sacrifice(s) or offering(s): An animal offering was given to maintain and strengthen a person's relationship with God. It was not required as a remedy for impurity or sin but was an expression of thanksgiving for various blessings. An important function of this sacrifice was to provide meat for the priests and the participants in the sacrifice; it was also called the peace offering or the sacrifice of well-being.}fellowship sacrifices ⁱ to the Lord. 6 The priest will then sprinkle the blood on the Lord’s altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 7 They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat-demons ^j that they have prostituted ^k themselves with. This will be a permanent statute ^l for them throughout their generations.

8 “Say to them: Anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners ^m who live among them who offers a ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offering or a sacrifice 9 but does not bring it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to sacrifice it to the Lord, that person must be cut off from his people.

Eating Blood and Carcasses Prohibited

10 “Anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who live among them who eats any blood, ^o I will turn ^{▼▼Lit will set My face} against that person who eats blood and cut him off from his people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make ^{▼▼atone/ atonement: A theological term for God's provision to deal with human sin. In the OT, it primarily means purification. In some contexts forgiveness, pardon, expiation, propitiation, or reconciliation is included. The basis of atonement is substitutionary sacrifice offered in faith. The OT sacrifices were types and shadows of the great and final sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.}atonement on the altar for ^{▼▼Or to ransom} your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement. ^s 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites: None of you and no foreigner who lives among you may eat blood.

13 “Any Israelite or foreigner living among them, who hunts ^t down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten must drain its blood ^u and cover it with dirt. 14 Since the life of every creature is its blood, I have told the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any creature, ^v because the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.

15 “Every person, whether the native or the foreigner, ^w who eats an animal that died a natural death or was mauled by wild beasts ^x is to wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will remain ^{▼▼unclean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}unclean until evening; then he will be ^{▼▼clean: When something is clean, it is holy or acceptable to God. When it is unclean, it is unholy (such as an unclean spirit). The term can be used in a ritual sense to apply to moral standards for living.}clean. 16 But if he does not wash his clothes and bathe himself, he will bear his punishment.”