UTN uW Translation Notes:

Leviticus 17 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter contains Yahweh’s laws about proper sacrifice and handling of blood. The structure of this chapter is as follows:

1. Laws about where to sacrifice (17:1–9)
   1. Sacrifices must be brought to the tabernacle (17:1–7)
   2. Punishment for sacrificing elsewhere (17:8–9)
2. Laws about blood (17:10–16)
   1. Prohibition against eating blood (17:10–12)
   2. Proper handling of blood from hunted animals (17:13–14)
   3. Rules about eating animals found dead (17:15–16)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

The Day of Atonement

This was the most important holy day for Israel because:

• It happened only once a year.
• Only the high priest could perform the rituals.
• It was when sins were dealt with for the whole nation.
• Special rules had to be followed exactly.

Symbolic Actions

The chapter includes actions that had special meaning:

• Putting hands on the goat’s head showed the transfer of sin.
• Sprinkling blood showed cleansing.
• Sending away the scapegoat showed removing sin from the people.

Holy Places and Things

The chapter talks about different sacred areas:

• the most holy place (where only the high priest could go)
• the holy place (where regular priests could go)
• the altar in the courtyard
• special clothes for the high priest

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Metaphors about being “cut off”

The chapter often uses the phrase “cut off from his people” as a picture of punishment. This means the person:

• Cannot live with their community anymore
• Is separated like a branch cut from a tree
• Must leave their people

Your language might need a different way to express this idea of being forced to leave the community.

Idioms and figures of speech

The chapter uses several word pictures that might be hard to translate:

• “Set my face against” means “firmly decide to oppose”
• “Prostituting themselves” means “being unfaithful to Yahweh”
• “Carry his iniquity” means “be responsible for his sin”

Important terms about blood

The chapter talks about blood in special ways:

• “The life is in the blood” means blood keeps creatures alive
• “Blood makes atonement” means God uses blood to forgive sins
• “Eat blood” means eat meat that still has blood in it

(See: holy, highpriest, atonement, and sin)