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 the blood is the life of every living creature—the blood is what gives it life. That's why I told the people of Israel: 'You must not eat the blood of any animal, because the blood is the life of every creature. Anyone who eats blood will be cut off from the people.'
God is explaining that blood represents life itself, which is why He forbade the Israelites from consuming any blood—it was sacred and belonged to Him alone.
📚 Historical Context
This command was given to Moses as part of the detailed laws for the Israelites in the wilderness. In ancient times, many pagan cultures practiced drinking blood in religious rituals, believing it would give them power or connect them to their gods. God was setting His people apart from these practices and teaching them to revere life as sacred.
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