Blood, as basis of life

Scripture treats blood as the basis of life, and regards the shedding of blood as representing the end of life.

Blood symbolises life

Leviticus 17:10–14 See also Genesis 9:4–6; Deuteronomy 12:20–25; 2 Samuel 23:15–17; Psalm 72:14; Jeremiah 2:34; Ezekiel 33:1–6; Matthew 27:3–4; Luke 11:50–51 parallel Matthew 23:35–36

If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people. 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. Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner living among you eat blood.’ And if any Israelite or foreigner living among them hunts down a wild animal or bird that may be eaten, he must drain its blood and cover it with dirt. For the life of all flesh is its blood. Therefore I have told the Israelites, ‘You must not eat the blood of any living thing, because the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it must be cut off.’

Blood indicating violent death

Genesis 4:8–11 See also Genesis 9:6; Judges 9:22–24; 1 Kings 2:5–6, 1 Kings 2:28–34; 2 Kings 9:30–33

Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Shedding blood as a sin

Exodus 20:13 parallel Deuteronomy 5:17 See also Genesis 42:21–22; Deuteronomy 21:1–9; 2 Kings 21:16; Proverbs 1:10–19; Isaiah 26:21; Matthew 15:18–19 parallel Mark 7:20–21; Romans 1:28–29

You shall not murder.

The eating of blood forbidden

Leviticus 3:17 See also Leviticus 7:26–27, Leviticus 17:10–14; Deuteronomy 12:23; 1 Samuel 14:31–34; Acts 15:19–20, Acts 15:29

This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”