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You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/19.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Ye shall not eat <i>any thing</i> with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/19.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />‘You shall not eat <i>anything</i> with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/19.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘You shall not eat <i>any meat</i> with the blood. You shall not practice divination nor soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘You shall not eat <i>anything</i> with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/19.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />‘You shall not eat <i>anything</i> with the blood nor interpret omens or soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/19.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />‘You shall not eat <i>anything</i> with the blood, nor practice divination [using omens or witchcraft] or soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/19.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You are not to eat anything with blood in it. You are not to practice divination or witchcraft.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/19.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are not to eat anything with blood in it. You are not to practice divination or sorcery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/19.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantments, nor practise augury.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/leviticus/19.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Don't eat the blood of any animal. Don't practice any kind of witchcraft. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/19.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantments, nor practise augury.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/19.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Never eat any meat with blood still in it. "Never cast evil spells, and never consult fortunetellers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/19.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Do not eat any meat with blood still in it. Do not practice any kind of magic. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/19.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are not to eat anything containing blood, engage in occult practices, or practice fortune telling. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/19.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/19.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"'You must not eat anything with the blood still in it. You must not practice either divination or soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/19.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it; neither shall you practice divination, nor practice sorcery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/19.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/19.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/19.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You do not eat with the blood. You do not enchant, nor observe clouds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/19.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Ye do not eat with the blood; ye do not enchant, nor observe clouds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/19.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not eat with the blood: ye shall not take auguries, and ye shall not practise magic.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/19.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />You shall not eat with blood. You shall not divine nor observe dreams. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/19.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You shall not eat with blood. You shall not practice divination, nor the observation of dreams.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/19.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Do not eat anything with the blood still in it. Do not recite charms or practice soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/19.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not eat anything with its blood. You shall not practice augury or witchcraft.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/19.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not eat blood; you shall not practice divination with birds, nor shall you consult an oracle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/19.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />You shall not eat blood; you shall not conjure by a winged animal; you shall not use divination.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/19.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ye shall not eat with the blood; neither shall ye practise divination nor soothsaying.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/19.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Eat not on the mountains, nor shall ye employ auguries, nor divine by inspection of birds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/19-26.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=5177" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/19.htm">Keep My Decrees</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">25</span>But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit; thus your harvest will be increased. I am the LORD your God. <span class="reftext">26</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ṯō·ḵə·lū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">anything with</a> <a href="/hebrew/1818.htm" title="1818: had·dām (Art:: N-ms) -- Blood. From damam; blood of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively bloodshed.">blood still in it.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5172.htm" title="5172: ṯə·na·ḥă·šū (V-Piel-Imperf-2mp) -- A primitive root; properly, to hiss, i.e. Whisper a spell; generally, to prognosticate.">practice divination</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/6049.htm" title="6049: ṯə·‘ō·w·nê·nū (V-Piel-Imperf-2mp) -- A primitive root; to cover; used only as a denominative from anan, to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. Practise magic.">sorcery.</a> </span><span class="reftext">27</span>You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a></span><br />Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-23.htm">1 Samuel 15:23</a></span><br />For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">2 Kings 21:6</a></span><br />He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm">2 Chronicles 33:6</a></span><br />He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19</a></span><br />When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-2.htm">Jeremiah 10:2</a></span><br />This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/13-6.htm">Ezekiel 13:6-9</a></span><br />They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken? / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have uttered vain words and seen false visions, I am against you, declares the Lord GOD. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/5-12.htm">Micah 5:12</a></span><br />I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zechariah/10-2.htm">Zechariah 10:2</a></span><br />For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/3-5.htm">Malachi 3:5</a></span><br />“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/8-9.htm">Acts 8:9-11</a></span><br />Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Acts 16:16-18</a></span><br />One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/19-19.htm">Acts 19:19</a></span><br />And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/5-19.htm">Galatians 5:19-21</a></span><br />The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-11.htm">Ephesians 5:11-12</a></span><br />Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. / For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall you use enchantment, nor observe times.</p><p class="hdg">with the blood</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/3-17.htm">Leviticus 3:17</a></b></br> <i>It shall be</i> a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/7-26.htm">Leviticus 7:26</a></b></br> Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, <i>whether it be</i> of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/17-10.htm">Leviticus 17:10-14</a></b></br> And whatsoever man <i>there be</i> of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people… </p><p class="hdg">use</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/7-11.htm">Exodus 7:11</a></b></br> Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/8-7.htm">Exodus 8:7</a></b></br> And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/15-23.htm">1 Samuel 15:23</a></b></br> For rebellion <i>is as</i> the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness <i>is as</i> iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from <i>being</i> king.</p><p class="hdg">nor</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-14</a></b></br> There shall not be found among you <i>any one</i> that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, <i>or</i> that useth divination, <i>or</i> an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/17-17.htm">2 Kings 17:17</a></b></br> And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">2 Kings 21:6</a></b></br> And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke <i>him</i> to anger.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-6.htm">Auguries</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-14.htm">Augury</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-16.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/exodus/8-24.htm">Clouds</a> <a href="/genesis/44-15.htm">Divination</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-25.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-11.htm">Enchantment</a> <a href="/exodus/8-18.htm">Enchantments</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-6.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-25.htm">Food</a> <a href="/leviticus/14-31.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-3.htm">Observe</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-30.htm">Practice</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-30.htm">Practise</a> <a href="/genesis/44-12.htm">Search</a> <a href="/leviticus/14-55.htm">Signs</a> <a href="/acts/16-16.htm">Soothsaying</a> <a href="/revelation/18-23.htm">Sorcery</a> <a href="/leviticus/16-1.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/leviticus/16-19.htm">Times</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-51.htm">Use</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-23.htm">Used</a> <a href="/galatians/5-20.htm">Witchcraft</a> <a href="/exodus/34-10.htm">Wonders</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/23-23.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Auguries</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Augury</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Blood</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-11.htm">Clouds</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-27.htm">Divination</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-4.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/numbers/23-23.htm">Enchantment</a> <a href="/numbers/24-1.htm">Enchantments</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-28.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-6.htm">Food</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-11.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-30.htm">Observe</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-8.htm">Practice</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Practise</a> <a href="/numbers/10-33.htm">Search</a> <a href="/numbers/13-30.htm">Signs</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-6.htm">Soothsaying</a> <a href="/numbers/23-23.htm">Sorcery</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-12.htm">Strange</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-2.htm">Times</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Use</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-30.htm">Used</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Witchcraft</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-30.htm">Wonders</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 19</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/19-1.htm">A repetition of various laws</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/19.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/19.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You must not eat anything with blood still in it.</b><br>This command reflects the broader biblical prohibition against consuming blood, which is first introduced in <a href="/genesis/9-4.htm">Genesis 9:4</a> when God instructs Noah not to eat flesh with its lifeblood still in it. The prohibition is reiterated in <a href="/leviticus/17-10.htm">Leviticus 17:10-14</a>, emphasizing the sanctity of blood as it represents life. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, blood was often associated with life force and was used in various rituals. The Israelites were set apart by God to maintain purity and holiness, and abstaining from blood consumption was a part of this distinct identity. This command also foreshadows the New Testament teaching in <a href="/acts/15-20.htm">Acts 15:20</a>, where the apostles instruct Gentile believers to abstain from blood, maintaining continuity with the Old Testament law. Theologically, the prohibition underscores the significance of blood in atonement, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the remission of sins (<a href="/hebrews/9-22.htm">Hebrews 9:22</a>).<p><b>You must not practice divination or sorcery.</b><br>Divination and sorcery were common practices in the ancient world, often used to predict the future or manipulate events through supernatural means. These practices were prevalent among Israel's neighboring cultures, such as the Canaanites and Egyptians, who relied on omens, astrology, and necromancy. The prohibition against these practices in <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26</a> is part of a broader biblical theme that condemns reliance on occult practices, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10-12</a> and <a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Isaiah 8:19</a>. Such practices are considered abominations because they divert trust and dependence away from God and towards false spiritual powers. The Bible consistently calls for exclusive devotion to God, who alone knows the future and holds power over creation. In the New Testament, the rejection of sorcery is evident in <a href="/acts/19-19.htm">Acts 19:19</a>, where new believers in Ephesus burn their scrolls of magic. This command highlights the call to trust in God's sovereignty and wisdom, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is the source of all truth and revelation (<a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The primary audience of Leviticus, who were being prepared to live as God's holy people in the Promised Land.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites were headed, which was inhabited by people practicing the customs God forbade.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/pagan_nations.htm">Pagan Nations</a></b><br>The surrounding cultures that engaged in practices like eating blood and divination, which God prohibited for His people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The ultimate lawgiver, who desires His people to be set apart and holy.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_distinction.htm">Holiness and Distinction</a></b><br>God calls His people to be distinct from the surrounding cultures. This distinction is not just in belief but in practice, including dietary laws and spiritual practices.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_life.htm">Respect for Life</a></b><br>The prohibition against consuming blood underscores the sanctity of life, as blood represents life itself. This respect for life is a consistent biblical theme.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/avoiding_pagan_practices.htm">Avoiding Pagan Practices</a></b><br>Engaging in divination or sorcery is a form of idolatry, seeking guidance or power apart from God. Christians are called to rely solely on God for wisdom and direction.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>Even when cultural norms shift, God's commands remain. Obedience is a demonstration of faith and trust in God's wisdom and provision.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_discernment.htm">Spiritual Discernment</a></b><br>Christians must discern and reject practices that conflict with God's Word, even if they are popular or seem harmless in contemporary culture.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_19.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 19</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_palm_reading.htm">What does the Bible say about palm reading?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_enchantment.htm">What does the Bible say about enchantment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_witchcraft.htm">What does the Bible say about witchcraft?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/should_christians_reject_tattoos_today.htm">Leviticus 19:28 forbids cutting or tattooing the body; should modern Christians reject all tattoos despite cultural acceptance? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/19.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(26) <span class= "bld">Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood.</span>--According to the administrators of the law during the second Temple, there are no less than five different things forbidden here. It prohibits (1) eating the flesh of a legally slaughtered animal as long as its life is not quite gone, or whilst the flesh is still trembling; (2) eating the flesh of sacrificial animals whilst the blood is still in the sprinkling bowl, and before it has been sprinkled on the altar; (3) eating the meat of mourners by the relatives when a member of the family has been publicly executed, and his blood has been shed; (4) eating anything by the judicial court on the day when their sentence of death is being executed on the criminal; and (5) it warns the rebellious and gluttonous son not to eat immoderately by the penalty of blood." The ancient Chaldee Version, therefore, which translates it "Ye shall not eat the flesh of any sacrifice whilst the blood is in the basin unsprinkled," exhibits the second of these prohibitions involved in this interpretation; and all the five premise the rendering of this phrase, "Ye shall not eat by the blood," which has the merit of being literal; whilst the Authorised Version follows the first of these five prohibitions. Others, again, who also translate it "Ye shall not eat by the blood," take it as a prohibition of the idolatrous practice which obtained among the Zabii, who, to obtain favour from the demons, gathered the blood of the sacrifices which they offered to them into a vessel or a hole dug in the earth, and then sat around it to consume the sacrificial meal by the blood, thinking that thereby they fraternised with these demons. This seems to be favoured by the next clause.<p><span class= "bld">Neither shall ye use enchantment.- </span>Better, <span class= "ital">ye shall use no enchantment. </span>According to the authorities during the second Temple, this consisted in any one saying, "A morsel has dropped out of my mouth; the staff has fallen out of my hand; my child has called out behind me; a crow has cawed to me; a deer has crossed my path; a serpent crept on my right hand; a fox has gone by on my left;" and regarding these as bad omens for the day which has now began or for the work which he has just commenced. Or if he says to the man who raises the taxes, "Do not begin with me; it is still early in the day; it is the first of the month; it is the beginning of the week; I shall be unlucky the whole day, week, or month to be the first to be burdened;" this is enchantment.<p><span class= "bld">Nor observe times.</span>--This, according to the same authorities, consists in "taking notice of the seasons and days, and in saying this is a good day to begin <span class= "bld">a </span>journey, to-morrow will be lucky to make a purchase."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/leviticus/19.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 26-28.</span> - After a repetition of the fundamental ceremonial law against eating things which have the blood in them (the LXX. rendering, <span class="greek">ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων</span>, "upon the mountains," arises from a mistaken reading), follow prohibitions <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> to <span class="cmt_word">use enchantment</span>, literally, <span class="accented">to whisper or mutter after holding communication with serpents</span> (if the word <span class="accented">nichesh</span> be derived from <span class="accented">nachash</span>, a serpent); <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> to <span class="cmt_word">observe times</span>, or rather, according to a more probable etymology, <span class="accented">exercise the evil eye</span>; <p><span class="note_emph">(3)</span> to <span class="cmt_word">round the corners of your heads</span>, that is, use a sort of tonsure, as was done by some Arabian tribes (Herod., 3:3) in honour of their god Orotal, and by the Israelites as a form of mourning (<a href="/deuteronomy/14-1.htm">Deuteronomy 14:1</a>; <a href="/isaiah/22-12.htm">Isaiah 22:12</a>); . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/19-26.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">eat</span><br /><span class="heb">תֹאכְל֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(ṯō·ḵə·lū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> </span><span class="str2">To eat</span><br /><br /><span class="word">anything with</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">blood still in it.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַדָּ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(had·dām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1818.htm">Strong's 1818: </a> </span><span class="str2">Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">You must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">practice divination</span><br /><span class="heb">תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṯə·‘ō·w·nê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5172.htm">Strong's 5172: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hiss, whisper a, spell, to prognosticate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or sorcery.</span><br /><span class="heb">תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(ṯə·na·ḥă·šū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6049.htm">Strong's 6049: </a> </span><span class="str2">To act covertly, practise magic</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/19-26.htm">Leviticus 19:26 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 19:26 You shall not eat any meat (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/19-25.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 19:25"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:25" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/19-27.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 19:27"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:27" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>