Definition and Significance: In biblical terms, "life-blood" refers to the blood that is essential for life, symbolizing the life force within a living being. The concept of life-blood is deeply rooted in the understanding that blood is the carrier of life, a belief that is consistently reflected throughout the Scriptures. The shedding of blood, therefore, is equated with the loss of life, and it holds significant theological and moral implications.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 9:4-6: The earliest explicit mention of life-blood is found in the covenant God establishes with Noah after the flood. God commands, "But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. And I will surely demand an accounting for your lifeblood; I will demand it from every animal and from each man, too. I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind." This passage underscores the sanctity of life and the divine prohibition against consuming blood, as well as the moral responsibility for the shedding of human blood.

2. Leviticus 17:10-14: The Mosaic Law further elaborates on the prohibition against consuming blood, emphasizing its sacredness. "If anyone from the house of Israel or any foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people. 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 the life." Here, blood is not only a symbol of life but also a means of atonement, highlighting its spiritual significance.

3. Deuteronomy 12:23: Reinforcing the command given in Leviticus, this verse states, "Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat." The repetition of this commandment throughout the Torah indicates the importance of respecting the life-blood as a divine ordinance.

Theological Implications:

· Sanctity of Life: The concept of life-blood underscores the sanctity of life as ordained by God. Human life, being created in the image of God, is inviolable, and the shedding of innocent blood is a grave sin that demands divine justice.

· Atonement and Sacrifice: In the Old Testament sacrificial system, blood plays a crucial role in atonement rituals. The life-blood of sacrificial animals was offered on the altar to atone for the sins of the people, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the redemption of humanity.

· New Covenant: In the New Testament, the shedding of Christ's blood is central to the new covenant. Hebrews 9:22 states, "In fact, according to the law, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." The life-blood of Christ, therefore, becomes the means by which believers are reconciled to God.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

· Respect for Life: The biblical injunctions regarding life-blood call for a profound respect for life, both human and animal. This respect is manifested in ethical treatment and the recognition of the inherent value of life as a gift from God.

· Justice and Accountability: The demand for an accounting of life-blood reflects the biblical principle of justice. Those who shed blood unjustly are held accountable, emphasizing the moral responsibility to protect and preserve life.

In summary, the concept of life-blood in the Bible is a profound testament to the value God places on life, the seriousness of sin, and the necessity of atonement through the shedding of blood. It serves as a foundational element in understanding the biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.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 - 7k5332. netsach -- juice (of grapes), blood, gore
... 5331, 5332. netsach. 5333 . juice (of grapes), blood, gore. Transliteration:
netsach Phonetic Spelling: (nay'-tsakh) Short Definition: lifeblood. ...
/hebrew/5332.htm - 6k

5315. nephesh -- a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire ...
... 1), heart (5), heart's (2), herself (12), Himself (4), himself (19), human (1),
human being (1), hunger (1), life (146), life* (1), lifeblood* (2), lives (34 ...
/hebrew/5315.htm - 7k

1818. dam -- blood
... blood (303), bloodguilt (2), bloodguiltiness (12), bloodshed (27), bloody (7), death
(1), guilt of blood (2), homicide or another (1), life (1), lifeblood* (2 ...
/hebrew/1818.htm - 6k

You Observe How He Treats Ambrose. First, He Calls Him a Crow and ...
... The saintly Ambrose wrote his book on the Holy Spirit not in words only but with
his own blood; for he offered his life-blood to his persecutors, and shed it ...
/.../25 you observe how he.htm

Sin's Healing Shadow.
... Every man who has done something worth while for others has spilled some of his
life-blood into it. His work and name may have become known. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/sins healing shadow.htm

The Words on the Cross 164. Father, Forgive Them; for they Know ...
... Jesus, in thy dying woes,. Even while thy life-blood flows,. Craving pardon for
thy foes: ... Jesus, in thy thirst and pain,. While thy wounds thy life-blood drain,. ...
/.../the words on the cross 2.htm

The Water-Mark of John's Gospel.
... valuable. There's no belief in the heart-meaning without this thing of risking.
The trust that risks is the life blood of faith. The ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the water-mark of johns gospel.htm

The Winepress and Its Treader
... They are trodden 'in Mine anger, and their life-blood is sprinkled on My
garments.' It is He who crushes, not He who is crushed. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the winepress and its treader.htm

Warning.
... If it was not deceitful, it would never be delightful. It comes in innocent guise,
and saps the life blood, depriving one of the moral capacity to do good. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter viii warning.htm

The Design and Unity of Luke's History
... If we consider Luke's design, we shall see that the "error" which forms our subject
affects the very life-blood of the work and the atmosphere in which the ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 2 the design and.htm

Constant, Instant, Expectant
... to pray for the brethren, we shall not be "given to hospitality"; much less shall
we "bless them which persecute us." prayer is the life-blood of duty, the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/constant instant expectant.htm

The True Vine: Meditations for a Month on John 15:1-16
... I live by a life not mine,. For the sap that flows through my tendrils small. Is
the life-blood of the Vine. "No power indeed have I. The fruit of myself to bear ...
/.../murray/the true vine meditations for a month on john 151-16/title page.htm

Obedience
... Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is
my honour?' Malachi 1:6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 1 obedience.htm

Lifeblood (6 Occurrences)
... wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth." (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV). Jeremiah
2:34 And in the skirts of your robe may be seen the life-blood of those ...
/l/lifeblood.htm - 8k

Life-blood (4 Occurrences)
Life-blood. Lifeblood, Life-blood. Lifeboat . Multi-Version Concordance
Life-blood (4 Occurrences). ... (BBE). Lifeblood, Life-blood. Lifeboat . Reference
/l/life-blood.htm - 7k

Trod (14 Occurrences)
... the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them
in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled ...
/t/trod.htm - 11k

Danger (118 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 2 Samuel 23:17 And he said, Far be it from me, O Lord, to do this; how may
I take as my drink the life-blood of men who have put their lives in danger? ...
/d/danger.htm - 38k

Lifeboat (3 Occurrences)

/l/lifeboat.htm - 7k

Fugitive (12 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Proverbs 28:17 A man who is tormented by lifeblood will be a fugitive
until death; no one will support him. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/fugitive.htm - 11k

Tormented (17 Occurrences)
... Zion!" (WEB). Proverbs 28:17 A man who is tormented by lifeblood will be
a fugitive until death; no one will support him. (WEB NIV). ...
/t/tormented.htm - 11k

Stained (6 Occurrences)
... the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them
in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled ...
/s/stained.htm - 8k

Spattered (3 Occurrences)
... of the peoples there was no man with me: in my wrath and in my passion, they were
crushed under my feet; and my robes are marked with their life-blood, and all ...
/s/spattered.htm - 7k

Refuge (111 Occurrences)
...Blood-money, ie money paid in compensation for the murder, in settlement of the
avenger's claim, was in no circumstances permitted; nor could the refugee be ...
/r/refuge.htm - 41k

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