Leviticus 17: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Leviticus 17 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Yahweh instructs Moses to relay commands to Aaron, his sons, and the children of Israel (vv. 1-2). Israelites must bring any bull, lamb, or goat killed in the camp or outside to the door of the Tent of Meeting for sacrifice (vv.

Key verse

“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.”
Leviticus 17:11 (WEB)

Outline

Leviticus 17:1–2 Command for Proper Sacrifice
Leviticus 17:3–5 Prohibition of Unauthorized Sacrifice
Leviticus 17:6–7 Role of the Priest
Leviticus 17:8–9 Consequences of Improper Offering
Leviticus 17:10–12 Eating Blood Forbidden
Leviticus 17:13–14 Handling Blood in Hunting
Leviticus 17:15–16 Purity After Handling Dead Animals

Discussion questions

In v4, why does the text state 'blood shall be imputed to that man'?
What does the priest do with the blood in v6 at the door of the Tent of Meeting?
In v7, what does the phrase 'play the prostitute' suggest about the Israelites' actions?
In v11, why does Yahweh say 'the life of the flesh is in the blood' before forbidding anyone to eat it?
When have you witnessed the consequences of not following a specific command like 'cut off' in v9?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Leviticus 17: Hebrews 9, Deuteronomy 12, Genesis 9.

Before next time: read Leviticus 18.