Leviticus 17:4

And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

And bringeth {H935} it not unto the door {H6607} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}, to offer {H7126} an offering {H7133} unto the LORD {H3068} before {H6440} the tabernacle {H4908} of the LORD {H3068}; blood {H1818} shall be imputed {H2803} unto that man {H376}; he hath shed {H8210} blood {H1818}; and that man {H376} shall be cut off {H3772} from among {H7130} his people {H5971}:

without bringing it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to ADONAI before the tabernacle of ADONAI, he is to be charged with blood - he has shed blood, and that person is to be cut off from his people.

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 man shall incur bloodguilt. He has shed blood and must be cut off from among his people.

and hath not brought it unto the door of the tent of meeting, to offer it as an oblation unto Jehovah before the tabernacle of Jehovah: blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

Commentary

Leviticus 17:4 is a critical verse outlining the strict regulations for offering animal sacrifices in ancient Israel, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the proper place of worship. It declares a severe penalty for those who disregard these divine commands.

Context

This verse comes within a section of Leviticus (chapters 17-26) that focuses on practical holiness and the laws governing the daily lives and worship of the Israelites. Specifically, Leviticus 17 deals with the proper handling of blood and the centralization of all animal sacrifices. Prior to the establishment of the Tabernacle, it was common for people to offer sacrifices in various locations. However, to prevent idolatry and ensure the purity of worship, God commanded that all animals intended for sacrifice or consumption (if killed in the field) must be brought to the "door of the tabernacle of the congregation." This centralized system ensured accountability, adherence to ritual, and prevented the Israelites from adopting pagan practices of sacrificing to demons (Leviticus 17:7).

Key Themes

  • Centralization of Worship: God demanded that all legitimate sacrifices be offered at one designated location, the Tabernacle. This unified the nation's worship and safeguarded against the spread of unauthorized or idolatrous practices. This principle would later be reinforced in the call for a single place of worship in the promised land (Deuteronomy 12:5).
  • Sanctity of Blood and Life: The shedding of blood outside the prescribed ritual was treated with the utmost seriousness, equated to murder ("he hath shed blood"). Blood represented life itself (Leviticus 17:11) and was reserved for atonement. To misuse it was a profound offense against God's order.
  • Divine Authority and Consequences: Disobedience to this explicit command carried the dire penalty of being "cut off from among his people." This term (Hebrew: karath) implied excommunication from the covenant community, loss of all its privileges, and often, divine judgment leading to premature death. It underscored the seriousness of violating God's holiness and authority.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "blood shall be imputed unto that man" uses the Hebrew verb hashab (חָשַׁב), meaning "to reckon," "to account," or "to consider." Here, it signifies that the guilt of shedding blood unlawfully is definitively assigned to the person, as if they had committed murder. The consequence, "cut off" (Hebrew: karath), denotes a severe expulsion from the community, indicating a break from the covenant relationship with God and Israel.

Practical Application

While animal sacrifices are no longer required due to Christ's ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10), the principles embedded in Leviticus 17:4 remain relevant:

  • Worship on God's Terms: We are called to worship God according to His revealed will, not our own preferences or traditions that contradict His Word. True worship acknowledges His sovereignty and authority.
  • Reverence for Life: The sanctity of blood points to the sanctity of life itself. This verse underscores the value God places on life and the gravity of taking it unjustly.
  • Seriousness of Disobedience: God takes sin seriously, especially willful disobedience to His clear commands. There are spiritual and often natural consequences for rebellion against divine order.
  • The Ultimate Sacrifice: This Old Testament law, with its emphasis on blood for atonement, foreshadows the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood was shed once for all to provide true forgiveness and reconciliation.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 66:3

    He that killeth an ox [is as if] he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, [as if] he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as if he offered] swine's blood; he that burneth incense, [as if] he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

  • John 10:9

    I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

  • Ezekiel 20:40

    For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

  • John 10:7

    Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

  • Deuteronomy 12:5

    ¶ But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, [even] unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

  • Deuteronomy 12:21

    If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

  • Genesis 17:14

    And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
← Back