Blood

To blood is ascribed in Scripture the mysterious sacredness which belongs to life, and God reserved it to himself when allowing man the dominion over and the use of the lower animals for food. Thus reserved, it acquires a double power: (1) that of sacrificial atonement; and (2) that of becoming a curse when wantonly shed, unless duly expiated. (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:26; 17:11-13)

Blood

The life of all animals was regarded as especially in the blood, which was a sacred and essential part of the sacrifices offered to God, Hebrews 9:22. It was solemnly sprinkled upon the altar and the mercy seat, "for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul," Le 17:1-16 the life of the victim for the life of the sinner. It was therefore most sacredly associated with the blood of the Lamb of God which "cleanseth us from all sin," Ephesians 1:7 1 John 1:7. Hence the strict prohibition renewed in Acts 15:29. In direct opposition to this are the heathen customs of drinking the blood of animals and even of men- of eating raw flesh, with the blood, and even fresh cut from the living animal, 1 Samuel 14:32 Psalm 16:4 Ezekiel 33:25.

Besides the ordinary meaning of the word blood, it often signifies the guilt of murder, 2 Samuel 3:28 Acts 27:25; also relationship or consanguinity. "Flesh and blood" are placed in contrast with a spiritual nature, Matthew 16:17, the glorified body, 1 1 Corinthians 15:50, and evil spirits, Ephesians 6:12. The cause "between blood and blood," De 17:8, was one where life was depending on the judgment rendered.

(1.) As food, prohibited in Genesis 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deuteronomy 12:23; Leviticus 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 Samuel 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 (Exodus 12; Leviticus 4:5-7; 16:14-19). At the giving of the law (Exodus 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 (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:19, 20; 10:29; 13:20).

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

(4.) Blood used metaphorically to denote race (Acts 17:26), and as a symbol of slaughter (Isaiah 34:3). To "wash the feet in blood" means to gain a great victory (Psalm 58:10). Wine, from its red colour, is called "the blood of the grape" (Genesis 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. Psalm 69:20.)

1. (n.) The fluid which circulates in the principal vascular system of animals, carrying nourishment to all parts of the body, and bringing away waste products to be excreted. See under Arterial.

2. (n.) Relationship by descent from a common ancestor; consanguinity; kinship.

3. (n.) Descent; lineage; especially, honorable birth; the highest royal lineage.

4. (n.) Descent from parents of recognized breed; excellence or purity of breed.

5. (n.) The fleshy nature of man.

6. (n.) The shedding of blood; the taking of life, murder; manslaughter; destruction.

7. (n.) A bloodthirsty or murderous disposition.

8. (n.) Temper of mind; disposition; state of the passions; -- as if the blood were the seat of emotions.

9. (n.) A man of fire or spirit; a fiery spark; a gay, showy man; a rake.

10. (n.) The juice of anything, especially if red.

11. (v. t.) To bleed.

12. (v. t.) To stain, smear or wet, with blood.

13. (v. t.) To give (hounds or soldiers) a first taste or sight of blood, as in hunting or war.

14. (v. t.) To heat the blood of; to exasperate.

BLOOD

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 (Leviticus 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 (Genesis 37:26 Hosea 4:2 Revelation 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 (Genesis 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 (Genesis 17:10-11; see CIRCUMCISION).

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

Blood was commanded to be used also for purification or for ceremonial cleansing (Leviticus 14:5-7, 51, 52 Numbers 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 1 Kings 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 (Leviticus 5:6; see ATONEMENT), but there must always be a shedding of blood. "Apart from shedding of blood there is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22). The exaltation and dignifying of this idea finds its highest development then in the vicarious shedding of blood by Christ Himself (1 John 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 (Matthew 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 Exodus 24:6, 7 John 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

BLOOD AND WATER

(haima kai hudor): The remarkable passage (John 19:34) from which this expression is taken refers to the piercing of the Savior's side by the soldier. The evangelist notes here what he, as an eyewitness of the crucifixion, had seen as a surprising fact. Whereon this surprise was founded cannot now be more than guessed at. Nor is it necessary here to discuss the reason or reasons why the apostle mentions the fact at all in his report, whether merely for historical accuracy and completeness, or as a possible proof of the actual death of Christ, which at an early date became a subject of doubt among certain Christian sects, or whether by it he wished to refer to the mystical relation of baptismal cleansing ("water") and the atonement ("blood") as signified thereby. Let it suffice to state that a reference often made to 1 John 5:6, 8 is here quite out of place. This passage, though used by certain Fathers of the church as a proof of the last-named doctrine, does not indeed refer to this wonderful incident of the crucifixion story. The argument of 1 John 5:8 concerns the Messiahship of Jesus, which is proved by a threefold witness, for He is the one whom at the baptism of John ("water") God attested as the Messiah by the heavenly voice, "This is my beloved Son," who at the crucifixion ("blood") had the testimony that the Father had accepted His atoning sacrifice, and whose promise of sending the Comforter fulfilled on Pentecost ("spirit") presented us with the final proof of the completed Messianic task. The same expression in 1 John 5:6 refers probably to the same argument with the implied meaning that Jesus came not only by the merely ceremonial water of baptism, but also by the more important, because vivifying, blood of atonement.

The physiological aspect of this incident of the crucifixion has been first discussed by Gruner (Commentatio de morte Jesu Christi vera, Halle, 1805), who has shown that the blood released by the spear-thrust of the soldier must have been extravasated before the opening of the side took place, for only so could it have been poured forth in the described manner. While a number of commentators have opposed this view as a fanciful explanation, and have preferred to give the statement of the evangelist a symbolical meaning in the sense of the doctrines of baptism and eucharist (so Baur, Strauss, Reuss and others), some modern physiologists are convinced that in this passage a wonderful phenomenon is reported to us, which, inexplicable to the sacred historian, contains for us an almost certain clue to the real cause of the Savior's death. Dr. Stroud (On the Physiological Cause of the Death of Christ, London, 1847) basing his remarks on numerous postmortems, pronounced the opinion that here we had a proof of the death of Christ being due not to the effects of crucifixion but to "laceration or rupture of the heart" as a consequence of supreme mental agony and sorrow. It is well attested that usually the suffering on the cross was very prolonged. It often lasted two or three days, when death would supervene from exhaustion. There were no physical reasons why Christ should not have lived very much longer on the cross than He did. On the other hand, death caused by laceration of the heart in consequence of great mental suffering would be almost instantaneous. In such a case the phrase "of a broken heart," becomes literally true. The life blood flowing through the aperture or laceration into the pericardium or caul of the heart, being extravasated, soon coagulates into the red clot (blood) and the limpid serum (water). This accumulation in the heart-sac was released by the spear-thrust of the soldier (which here takes providentially the place of a postmorten without which it would have been impossible to determine the real cause of death), and from the gaping wound there flow the two component parts of blood distinctly visible.

Several distinguished physicians have accepted Dr. Stroud's argument, and some have strengthened it by the observation of additional symptoms. We may mention Dr. James Begbie, fellow and late president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Sir J. Y. Simpson, professor at the University of Edinburgh, and others (see Dr. Hanna, Our Lord's Life on Earth, Appendix I). The latter refers to the loud cry, mentioned by the Synoptists (Matthew 27:50 Mark 15:37 Luke 23:46), which preceded the actual death of Jesus, as a symptom characteristic of cases of "broken heart." He adds that Dr. Walshe, professor of medicine in University College, London, one of the greatest authorities on the diseases of the heart, says that a "piercing shriek" is always uttered in such cases immediately before the end.

While we may never reach a state of absolute certainty on this subject, there is no valid reason to deny the probability of this view of the death of Christ. It certainly gives a more solemn insight into Christ's spiritual anguish, "the travail of his soul" on our behalf, which weighed upon Him so heavily that long before the usual term of bodily and therefore endurable suffering of crucified persons Christ's loving heart broke, achieving the great atoning sacrifice for all mankind.

H. L. E. Luering

ISSUE (OF BLOOD)

(zobh, zubh; rhusis, haimorrhoos): When used as a description of a bodily affection the word signifies:

(1) A discharge, the consequence of uncleanness and sin (Leviticus 15:2 Numbers 5:2). As such it was one of the judgments which were to afflict the family of Joab (2 Samuel 3:29);

(2) a hemorrhage, either natural (Leviticus 12:7, where the word used is maqor, literally, a "fountain"), or the consequence of disease (Matthew 9:20 Mark 5:25 Luke 8:43).

BLOOD, AVENGER OF

See AVENGER.

BLOOD, ISSUE OF

ish'-u.

See BLOODY FLUX.

FLESH AND BLOOD

See FLESH, 5.

129. haima -- blood
... blood. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: haima Phonetic Spelling:
(hah'-ee-mah) Short Definition: blood Definition: blood (especially as shed). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/129.htm - 6k

130. haimatekchusia -- shedding of blood
... shedding of blood. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: haimatekchusia
Phonetic Spelling: (hahee-mat-ek-khoo-see'-ah) Short Definition: a shedding or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/130.htm - 6k

131. haimorroeo -- to lose blood
... to lose blood. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: haimorroeo Phonetic Spelling:
(hahee-mor-hreh'-o) Short Definition: I suffer from a continual flow (oozing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/131.htm - 6k

4689. spendo -- to pour out (as a drink offering), to make a ...
... 4689 () means " as a drink-offering, ; figuratively, 'or ' (in the shedding of my
life-blood), Phil 2:17" (); that is, the " 'outpouring' of one's life blood ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4689.htm - 7k

2435. hilasterion -- propitiatory
... by which the wrath of the deity shall be appeased; a means of propitiation, (b)
the covering of the ark, which was sprinkled with the atoning blood on the Day ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2435.htm - 7k

1366. distomos -- double-mouthed, two-edged
... distomos Phonetic Spelling: (dis'-tom-os) Short Definition: two-edged Definition:
(lit: twain-mouthed; hence: of a sword, as a drinker of blood), two-edged. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1366.htm - 7k

184. Hakeldamach -- Hakeldama, a field appar. located south of the ...
... Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Hakeldamach Phonetic Spelling: (ak-el-dam-ah')
Short Definition: Akeldama Definition: Akeldama (in Aramaic: field of blood ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/184.htm - 6k

4156. pniktos -- strangled
... Adjective Transliteration: pniktos Phonetic Spelling: (pnik-tos') Short Definition:
strangled Definition: strangled (ie killed without letting out the blood). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4156.htm - 6k

2378. thusia -- a sacrifice
... 2378 ("sacrifice") refers to various forms of OT blood sacrifices ("types") --
all awaiting their in their , Jesus Christ (Heb 10:5-12). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2378.htm - 7k

2434. hilasmos -- propitiation
... sacrifice. 2434 -- properly, ; an offering to () an , party. 2434 () is only
used twice (1 Jn 2:2, 4:10) -- both times of blood that . By ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2434.htm - 7k

1818. dam -- blood
... 1817, 1818. dam. 1819 . blood. Transliteration: dam Phonetic Spelling:
(dawm) Short Definition: blood. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/1818.htm - 6k

5332. netsach -- juice (of grapes), blood, gore
... netsach. 5333 . juice (of grapes), blood, gore. Transliteration: netsach Phonetic
Spelling: (nay'-tsakh) Short Definition: lifeblood. ... blood, strength. ...
/hebrew/5332.htm - 6k

6450. Pas Dammim -- "palm of blood," a place in Judah
... 6449, 6450. Pas Dammim. 6451 . "palm of blood," a place in Judah. Transliteration:
Pas Dammim Phonetic Spelling: (pas dam-meem') Short Definition: Pasdammim ...
/hebrew/6450.htm - 6k

7607. sheer -- flesh
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition flesh NASB Word Usage blood relative
(4), blood relatives (2), body (1), flesh (4), food (1), himself (1), meat (2 ...
/hebrew/7607.htm - 6k

7608. shaarah -- near kinswomen
... Word Origin fem. of sheer, qv. near kinswomen Feminine of sh'er; female kindred
by blood -- near kinswomen. see HEBREW sh'er. 7607, 7608. shaarah. 7609 . ...
/hebrew/7608.htm - 5k

8210. shaphak -- to pour out, pour
... A primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid,
ie To mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money ...
/hebrew/8210.htm - 6k

582. enosh -- man, mankind
... properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified 'adam); hence, a
man in general (singly or collectively) -- another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain ...
/hebrew/582.htm - 6k

5592. caph -- a basin, goblet
... From caphaph, in its original sense of containing; a vestibule (as a limit); also
a dish (for holding blood or wine) -- bason, bowl, cup, door (post), gate ...
/hebrew/5592.htm - 5k

4518. menaqqith -- a sacrificial bowl
... bowl. From naqah; a sacrificial basin (for holding blood) -- bowl. see HEBREW
naqah. 4517, 4518. menaqqith. 4519 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4518.htm - 6k

4726. maqor -- a spring, fountain
... Or maqor {maw-kore'}; from quwr; properly, something dug, ie A (general) source
(of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of ...
/hebrew/4726.htm - 6k

The Blood
... The Blood. A Sermon (No.228). ... REV. CH SPURGEON. at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens.
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you.""Exodus 12:13. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the blood.htm

The Blood-Shedding
... The Blood-Shedding. A Sermon (No.118). ... REV. CH SPURGEON. At The Music Hall, Royal
Surrey Gardens. "Without shedding of blood is no remission.""Hebrews 9:22. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the blood-shedding.htm

Whether the Baptism of Blood is the Most Excellent of These?
... OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the Baptism of Blood
is the most excellent of these? Objection 1: It seems ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the baptism of blood.htm

The Blood of the Covenant
... Chapter IX. The Blood of the Covenant. "Behold the blood of the covenant, which
the Lord hath made with you.""Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 9:20. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/chapter ix the blood of.htm

The Voice of the Blood of Christ
... The Voice of the Blood of Christ. A Sermon (No.211). ... "The blood of sprinkling,
that speaketh better things than that of Abel.""Hebrews 12:24. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the voice of the blood.htm

The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant
... The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant. A Sermon (No.273). ... at the Music Hall, Royal
Surrey Gardens. "The blood of the everlasting covenant.""Hebrews 13:20. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the blood of the everlasting.htm

What the Blood of the Grape Signifies.
... Chapter LIV."What the blood of the grape signifies. "And that expression which
was committed to writing [2118] by Moses, and prophesied ...
/.../chapter liv what the blood of.htm

Are You Washed in the Blood? PM
... 282 Are You Washed in the Blood? PM. Resting in Christ's Merits. Have you been to
Jesus for the cleansing pow'r? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/282 are you washed in.htm

In what Sense Flesh and Blood are Excluded from the Kingdom of God ...
... Chapter L."In What Sense Flesh and Blood are Excluded from the Kingdom
of God. Putting aside, however, all interpretations of ...
/.../tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter l in what sense flesh.htm

By the Blood that Flowed from Thee
... No. 20 By the blood that flowed from Thee. LENT AND PASSIONTIDE By the blood that
flowed from Thee Litany of the Passion. CM Caddell Nicola. A. Montani. ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 20 by the blood.htm

Blood (435 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 12:23; Leviticus 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). ...
/b/blood.htm - 54k

Blood-guiltiness (4 Occurrences)
Blood-guiltiness. Bloodguiltiness, Blood-guiltiness. Bloodless .
Multi-Version Concordance Blood-guiltiness (4 Occurrences). ...
/b/blood-guiltiness.htm - 7k

Blood-revenge
Blood-revenge. Bloodrevenge, Blood-revenge. Bloodshed . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia BLOOD-REVENGE. blud-re-venj': See AVENGER. ...
/b/blood-revenge.htm - 6k

Blood-stained (1 Occurrence)
Blood-stained. Bloodshot, Blood-stained. Bloodstains . Multi-Version
Concordance Blood-stained (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel ...
/b/blood-stained.htm - 6k

Life-blood (4 Occurrences)
Life-blood. Lifeblood, Life-blood. Lifeboat . Multi-Version
Concordance Life-blood (4 Occurrences). Genesis 9:4 But ...
/l/life-blood.htm - 7k

Blood-shedding (2 Occurrences)
Blood-shedding. Bloodshedding, Blood-shedding. Bloodshot .
Multi-Version Concordance Blood-shedding (2 Occurrences). ...
/b/blood-shedding.htm - 7k

Blood-thirsty (2 Occurrences)
Blood-thirsty. Bloodthirsty, Blood-thirsty. Bloody . Multi-Version
Concordance Blood-thirsty (2 Occurrences). Psalms ...
/b/blood-thirsty.htm - 6k

Blood-field (1 Occurrence)
Blood-field. Blood, Blood-field. Bloodguilt . Multi-Version Concordance
Blood-field (1 Occurrence). Matthew 27:8 Wherefore ...
/b/blood-field.htm - 6k

Blood-red (1 Occurrence)
Blood-red. Bloodless, Blood-red. Bloodrevenge . Multi-Version
Concordance Blood-red (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 63:1 Who ...
/b/blood-red.htm - 6k

Covenant-blood (1 Occurrence)
Covenant-blood. Covenant, Covenant-blood. Covenantbreakers .
Multi-Version Concordance Covenant-blood (1 Occurrence). ...
/c/covenant-blood.htm - 6k

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