What does the Bible say about blood?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that blood represents life and that God has provided forgiveness, cleansing, and reconciliation through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. Leviticus 17:11 declares that God gave blood on the altar to make atonement, while Genesis 9:4 and Leviticus 17:14 teach reverence for life by forbidding the consumption of blood. These sacrifices pointed forward to Christ, whose blood establishes the new covenant and secures forgiveness, as Matthew 26:28 and Hebrews 9:12-14 proclaim. Though Hebrews 9:22 stresses that forgiveness requires the shedding of blood, believers rest not in repeated rituals but in Christ's once-for-all offering. His blood cleanses us from sin, sanctifies his people, and assures us of fellowship with God (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 13:12).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.
- Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.
- Genesis 9:4
But flesh with the life of it, the blood of it, you shall not eat.
- 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
- Hebrews 13:12
Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate.
- 1 John 5:6
This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
- Ezekiel 16:6
When I passed by you, and saw you weltering in your blood, I said to you, [Though you are] in your blood, live; yes, I said to you, [Though you are] in your blood, live.
- Leviticus 17:14
For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life: therefore I said to the children of Israel, "You shall not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off."
- Matthew 26:28
for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
- Hebrews 9:12-14
[12] nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. [13] For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: [14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- Is the life Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11; Leviticus 17:14; Leviticus 19:16; Deuteronomy 12:23; Matthew 27:4; Matthew 27:24
- Forbidden to be used as food Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:26; Leviticus 7:27; Leviticus 17:10-14; Leviticus 19:26; Deuteronomy 12:16; Deuteronomy 12:23; Deuteronomy 15:23; Ezekiel 33:25; Acts 15:20; Acts 15:29
- Plague of Exodus 7:17-25; Psalms 78:44; Psalms 105:29
- SACRIFICIAL
- Without shedding of, no remission Hebrews 9:22
- Sprinkled on altar and people Exodus 24:6-8; Ezekiel 43:18; Ezekiel 43:20
- Sprinkled on door posts Exodus 12:7-23; Hebrews 11:28
- OF SIN OFFERING Sprinkled seven times before the curtain Leviticus 4:5; Leviticus 4:6; Leviticus 4:17; Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 4:7; Leviticus 4:18; Leviticus 4:25; Leviticus 4:30; Leviticus 5:9; Leviticus 9:9; Leviticus 9:12
- Of the bullock of sin offering, put on the horns of the altar Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 8:15
- Poured at the bottom of the altar Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 8:15
- See OFFERINGS
- OF TRESPASS OFFERING Sprinkled on the altar Leviticus 7:2
- See OFFERINGS
- OF BURNT OFFERING Sprinkled all around, and upon the altar Exodus 29:16; Leviticus 1:5; Leviticus 1:11; Leviticus 1:15; Leviticus 8:19; Deuteronomy 12:27
- See OFFERINGS
- Used for cleansing of leprosy Leviticus 14:6; Leviticus 14:7; Leviticus 14:17; Leviticus 14:28; Leviticus 14:51; Leviticus 14:52
- See OFFERINGS
- OF PEACE OFFERING Sprinkled about the altar Leviticus 3:2; Leviticus 3:8; Leviticus 3:13; Leviticus 9:18
- Blood of the ram of consecration put on the tip of right ear, thumb, and big toe of, and sprinkled upon, Aaron and his sons Exodus 29:2; Exodus 29:21; Leviticus 8:23; Leviticus 8:24; Leviticus 8:30
- See OFFERINGS
- OF ATONEMENT Sprinkled on the mercy seat Leviticus 16:14; Leviticus 16:15; Leviticus 16:18; Leviticus 16:19; Leviticus 16:27; Leviticus 17:11
- See OFFERINGS
- BLOOD OF THE COVENANT
- See OFFERINGS
- FIGURATIVE
- Of victories Psalms 58:10
- Of oppression and cruelty Habakkuk 2:12
- Of destruction Ezekiel 35:6
- Of guilt Leviticus 20:9; 2 Samuel 1:16; Ezekiel 18:13
- Of judgments Ezekiel 16:38; Revelation 16:6
- OF SACRIFICES, TYPICAL OF THE ATONING BLOOD OF CHRIST Hebrews 9:6-28
- OF CHRIST Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; John 6:53-56; John 19:34; Acts 20:28; Romans 3:24; Romans 3:25; Romans 5:9; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Ephesians 1:7
- See ATONEMENT
- See JESUS, MISSION OF, SUFFERINGS OF
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- The life of animals Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11; Leviticus 17:14
- Fluid Deuteronomy 12:16
- Red 2 Kings 3:22; Joel 2:31
- Of all men the same Acts 17:26
- Eating of, forbidden to
- Man after the flood Genesis 9:4
- The Israelites under the law Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 17:10; Leviticus 17:12
- The early Christians Acts 15:20; Acts 15:29
- The Jews often guilty of eating 1 Samuel 14:32; 1 Samuel 14:33; Ezekiel 33:25
- Of animals slain for good to be poured on the earth and covered Leviticus 17:13; Deuteronomy 12:16; Deuteronomy 12:24
- Birds of prey delight in Job 39:30
- Beasts of prey delight in Numbers 23:24; Psalms 68:23
- Shedding of human
- Forbidden Genesis 9:5
- Hateful to God Proverbs 6:16; Proverbs 6:17
- Defiling to the land Psalms 106:38
- Defiling to the person Isaiah 59:3
- Jews often guilty of Jeremiah 22:17; Ezekiel 22:4
- Always punished Genesis 9:6
- Mode of clearing those accused of Deuteronomy 21:1-9
- The price of, not to be consecrated Matthew 27:6
- Of legal sacrifices
- For atonement Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 17:11
- For purification Hebrews 9:13; Hebrews 9:19-22
- How disposed of Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7
- Not offered with leaven Exodus 23:18; Exodus 34:25
- Ineffectual to remove sin Hebrews 10:4
- Idolaters made drink-offerings of Psalms 16:4
- Water turned into, as a sign Exodus 4:30
- Waters of Egypt turned into, as a judgment Exodus 7:17-21
- Illustrative
- (Washing the feet in,) of victories Psalms 58:10; Psalms 68:23
- (Building with,) of oppression and cruelty Habakkuk 2:12
- (Preparing to,) of ripening for destruction Ezekiel 35:6
- (On one’s own head,) of guilt Leviticus 20:9; 2 Samuel 1:16; Ezekiel 18:13
- (Given to drink,) of severe judgments Ezekiel 16:38; Revelation 16:6
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