Blood

(1.) As food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14. The injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:29). It has been held by some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still binding on all. Blood was eaten by the Israelites after the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 14:32-34).

(2.) The blood of sacrifices was caught by the priest in a basin, and then sprinkled seven times on the altar; that of the passover on the doorposts and lintels of the houses (Ex. 12; Lev. 4:5-7; 16:14-19). At the giving of the law (Ex. 24:8) the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled on the people as well as on the altar, and thus the people were consecrated to God, or entered into covenant with him, hence the blood of the covenant (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:19, 20; 10:29; 13:20).

(3.) Human blood. The murderer was to be punished (Gen. 9:5). The blood of the murdered “crieth for vengeance” (Gen. 4:10). The “avenger of blood” was the nearest relative of the murdered, and he was required to avenge his death (Num. 35:24, 27). No satisfaction could be made for the guilt of murder (Num. 35:31).

(4.) Blood used metaphorically to denote race (Acts 17:26), and as a symbol of slaughter (Isa. 34:3). To “wash the feet in blood” means to gain a great victory (Ps. 58:10). Wine, from its red colour, is called “the blood of the grape” (Gen. 49:11). Blood and water issued from our Saviour’s side when it was pierced by the Roman soldier (John 19:34). This has led pathologists to the conclusion that the proper cause of Christ’s death was rupture of the heart. (Comp. Ps. 69:20.)

blud (dam, probably from 'adham "to be red"; haima): Used in the Old Testament to designate the life principle in either animal or vegetable, as the blood of man or the juice of the grape (Le 17:11, et al.); in the New Testament for the blood of an animal, the atoning blood of Christ, and in both Old Testament and New Testament in a figurative sense for bloodshed or murder (Ge 37:26; Ho 4:2; Re 16:6).

1. Primitive Ideas:

Although the real function of the blood in the human system was not fully known until the fact of its circulation was established by William Harvey in 1615, nevertheless from the earliest times a singular mystery has been attached to it by all peoples. Blood rites, blood ceremonies and blood feuds are common among primitive tribes. It came to be recognized as the life principle long before it was scientifically proved to be. Naturally a feeling of fear, awe and reverence would be attached to the shedding of blood. With many uncivilized peoples scarification of the body until blood flows is practiced. Blood brotherhood or blood friendship is established by African tribes by the mutual shedding of blood and either drinking it or rubbing it on one another's bodies. Thus and by the inter-transfusion of blood by other means it was thought that a community of life and interest could be established.

2. Hebrew and Old Testament Customs:

Notwithstanding the ignorance and superstition surrounding this suggestively beautiful idea, it grew to have more than a merely human significance and application. For this crude practice of inter-transference of human blood there came to be a symbolic substitution of animal blood in sprinkling or anointing. The first reference in the Old Testament to blood (Ge 4:10) is figurative, but highly illustrative of the reverential fear manifested upon the shedding of blood and the first teaching regarding it.

The rite of circumcision is an Old Testament form of blood ceremony. Apart from the probable sanitary importance of the act is the deeper meaning in the establishment of a bond of friendship between the one upon whom the act is performed and Yahweh Himself. In order that Abraham might become "the friend of God" he was commanded that he should be circumcised as a token of the covenant between him and God (Ge 17:10-11; see CIRCUMCISION).

It is significant that the eating of blood was prohibited in earliest Bible times (Ge 9:4). The custom probably prevailed among heathen nations as a religious rite (compare Ps 16:4). This and its unhygienic influence together doubtless led to its becoming taboo. The same prohibition was made under the Mosaic code (Le 7:26; see SACRIFICE).

Blood was commanded to be used also for purification or for ceremonial cleansing (Le 14:5-7,51,52; Nu 19:4), provided, however, that it be taken from a clean animal (see PURIFICATION).

In all probability there is no trace of the superstitious use of blood in the Old Testament, unless perchance in 1Ki 22:38 (see BATHING); but everywhere it is vested with cleansing, expiatory, and reverently symbolic qualities.

3. New Testament Teachings:

As in the transition from ancient to Hebrew practice, so from the Old Testament to the New Testament we see an exaltation of the conception of blood and blood ceremonies. In Abraham's covenant his own blood had to be shed. Later an expiatory animal was to shed blood (Le 5:6; see ATONEMENT), but there must always be a shedding of blood. "Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb 9:22). The exaltation and dignifying of this idea finds its highest development then in the vicarious shedding of blood by Christ Himself (1Jo 1:7). As in the Old Testament "blood" was also used to signify the juice of grapes, the most natural substitute for the drinking of blood would be the use of wine. Jesus takes advantage of this, and introduces the beautiful and significant custom (Mt 26:28) of drinking wine and eating bread as symbolic of the primitive intertransfusion of blood and flesh in a pledge of eternal friendship (compare Ex 24:6,7; Joh 6:53-56). This is the climactic observance of blood rites recorded in the Bible.

LITERATURE.

Trumbull, The Blood Covenant and The Threshold Covenant; Westermarck, The Origin and Development of the Moral Ideas; Robertson Smith, Lectures on the Religion of the Semites.

Walter G. Clippinger

• → Is the life Ge 9:4; Le 17:11,14; 19:16; De 12:23; Mt 27:4,24
• → Forbidden to be used as food Ge 9:4; Le 3:17; 7:26,27; 17:10-14; 19:26; De 12:16,23; 15:23; Eze 33:25; Ac 15:20,29; 21:25
• → Plague of Ex 7:17-25; Ps 78:44; 105:29
• → SACRIFICIAL
  • Without shedding of, no remission Heb 9:22
  • Sprinkled on altar and people Ex 24:6-8; Eze 43:18,20
  • Sprinkled on door posts Ex 12:7-23; Heb 11:28
  • OF SIN OFFERING
• Sprinkled seven times before the curtain Le 4:5,6,17
• On the horns of the altar of sweet incense, and at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering Ex 30:10; Le 4:7,18,25,30; 5:9; 9:9,12
  • Of the bullock of sin offering, put on the horns of the altar Ex 29:12; Le 8:15
  • Poured at the bottom of the altar Ex 29:12; Le 8:15
  • See OFFERINGS
  • OF TRESPASS OFFERING
• Sprinkled on the altar Le 7:2
  • See OFFERINGS
  • OF BURNT OFFERING
• Sprinkled all around, and upon the altar Ex 29:16; Le 1:5,11,15; 8:19; De 12:27
  • See OFFERINGS
  • Used for cleansing of leprosy Le 14:6,7,17,28,51,52
  • See OFFERINGS
  • OF PEACE OFFERING
• Sprinkled about the altar Le 3:2,8,13; 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 Ex 29:2,21; Le 8:23,24,30
  • See OFFERINGS
  • OF ATONEMENT
• Sprinkled on the mercy seat Le 16:14,15,18,19,27; 17:11
  • See OFFERINGS
  • BLOOD OF THE COVENANT
  • See OFFERINGS
• → FIGURATIVE
  • Of victories Ps 58:10
  • Of oppression and cruelty Hab 2:12
  • Of destruction Eze 35:6
  • Of guilt Le 20:9; 2Sa 1:16; Eze 18:13
  • Of judgments Eze 16:38; Re 16:6
• → OF SACRIFICES, TYPICAL OF THE ATONING BLOOD OF CHRIST Heb 9:6-28
• → OF CHRIST Mt 26:28; Mr 14:24; Lu 22:20; Joh 6:53-56; 19:34; Ac 20:28; Ro 3:24,25; 5:9; 1Co 10:16; 11:25; Eph 1:7; 2:13,16; Col 1:14,20; Heb 9:12-14; 10:19,20,29; 12:24; 13:12,20; 1Pe 1:2,18,19; 1Jo 1:7; 5:6,8; Re 1:5,6; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11
  • See ATONEMENT
  • See JESUS, MISSION OF, SUFFERINGS OF

• The life of animals Ge 9:4; Le 17:11,14
• Fluid De 12:16
• Red 2Ki 3:22; Joe 2:31
• Of all men the same Ac 17:26
• EATING OF, FORBIDDEN TO
  • Man after the flood Ge 9:4
  • The Israelites under the law Le 3:17; 17:10,12
  • The early Christians Ac 15:20,29
• The Jews often guilty of eating 1Sa 14:32,33; Eze 33:25
• Of animals slain for good to be poured on the earth and covered Le 17:13; De 12:16,24
• Birds of prey delight in Job 39:30
• Beasts of prey delight in Nu 23:24; Ps 68:23
• SHEDDING OF HUMAN
  • Forbidden Ge 9:5
  • Hateful to God Pr 6:16,17
  • Defiling to the land Ps 106:38
  • Defiling to the person Isa 59:3
  • Jews often guilty of Jer 22:17; Eze 22:4
  • Always punished Ge 9:6
  • Mode of clearing those accused of De 21:1-9
• The price of, not to be consecrated Mt 27:6
• OF LEGAL SACRIFICES
  • For atonement Ex 30:10; Le 17:11
  • For purification Heb 9:13,19-22
  • How disposed of Ex 29:12; Le 4:7
  • Not offered with leaven Ex 23:18; 34:25
  • Ineffectual to remove sin Heb 10:4
• Idolaters made drink-offerings of Ps 16:4
• Water turned into, as a sign Ex 4:30
• Waters of Egypt turned into, as a judgment Ex 7:17-21
• ILLUSTRATIVE
  • (Washing the feet in,) of victories Ps 58:10; 68:23
  • (Building with,) of oppression and cruelty Hab 2:12
  • (Preparing to,) of ripening for destruction Eze 35:6
  • (On one's own head,) of guilt Le 20:9; 2Sa 1:16; Eze 18:13
  • (Given to drink,) of severe judgments Eze 16:38; Re 16:6