Leviticuschapter 17
16 verses · Moses, by tradition · 15th to 13th century BC · The Law
Original Language
Leviticus 17— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
In Jewish life
Jewish practice and Jewish teaching both have something to say about Leviticus 17. Three things follow: where it is read, what is done because of it, and how the rabbis have taught it. The purpose is to inform a Christian reader what Jews believe and how Judaism was and is practised.
The reading
Weekly portion 29 of 54
אַחֲרֵי מוֹת Achrei Mot, Leviticus 16:1 to 18:30
Read with it: Ezekiel 22:1 to 22:19 in Ashkenazi use, and Ezekiel 22:1 to 22:16 in Sephardi use.
The verse numbers here are the ones a Hebrew Bible carries, which differ from an English Bible by a verse or two in several places. The Sephardi reading is named only where this site records a difference; communities vary beyond what is listed. What these books are, and how a Christian reader meets them →
Where the rabbis cite this chapter
3 rows sit beside their verses in the text, on 3 verses of this chapter. No row that speaks to the chapter as a whole is recorded. Every quote links to its full source.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria (sefaria.org); excerpts follow each version’s license, and every passage opens at its source.
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, a widely used lookup this site follows (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets mark the Hebrew’s own grammatical elements that English renders as separate words, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
One altar, one door, no field sacrifices1
Leviticus 17:1· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:2· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:3· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:4· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:5· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:6· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:7· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:8· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:9· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
The life of the flesh is in the blood10
Leviticus 17:10· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Leviticus 17:10
כל דם [WHATSOEVER MAN THERE BE … THAT EATETH] ANY BLOOD — Since Scripture states (v. 11) “[for it is the blood] with the life that maketh expiation", I might think that one is liable only for eating the blood of consecrated animals, (i. e. sacrifices), for it is only the blood of such animals that makes expiation.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934
Leviticus 17:11· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:12· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Rashi on Leviticus 17:12
כל נפש מכם NO SOUL OF YOU [SHALL EAT BLOOD] — This is stated in addition to v. 10 to admonish the adults about their young children (that they should not permit them blood to eat — for “no soul” shall eat blood) (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 7; Yevamot 114a).
Read it in full at Sefaria · Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934
Leviticus 17:13· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Leviticus 17:14· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Ramban on Leviticus 17:14
THE BLOOD THEREOF IS ‘B’NAFSHO’ (ALL ONE WITH THE LIFE THEREOF). “Its blood represents its life, since life is dependent upon the blood.” This is Rashi’s language. But it is not correct.
Read it in full at Sefaria · Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Eating what died of itself15
Leviticus 17:15· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible