The life of an animal is in its blood, that’s why no one among the children of Israel was to eat the blood of animal. The life of an animal is in its blood, the blood is life, and that’s the key to the sacrificial system and atonement. This will be another discussion that transitions from a chapter in Leviticus to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Leviticus 17

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 

2 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them ‘This is what the LORD has commanded:

3 Any man of the house of Israel that kills an ox, lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that kills it outside of the camp,

4 And does not bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, to make an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; that man is guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people: 

5 This is so the children of Israel will bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them to the LORD, to the door of the tent of meeting, to the priest, and offer them for peace offerings to the LORD.

6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to the LORD.

7 They shall not offer their sacrifices to the goat demons they have prostituted themselves with. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’

8 You shall say to them ‘Any man of the house of Israel, or strangers that stay with you, that offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,

9 And does not bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, to offer it to the LORD, that man shall be cut off from among his people.

10 Any man of the house of Israel, or strangers that stay with you, that eats any manner of blood; I will set my face against that person that eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

11 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 for the soul.

12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel “No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that stays with you eat blood.”

13 Any man of the children of Israel, or the strangers that stay with you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour the blood of it out, and cover it with dust.

14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is the life of it: therefore I said to the children of Israel, You shall eat the blood of any type of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood: whosoever eats it shall be cut off.

15 Every soul that eats that which died on its own, or was torn apart by animals, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening: then shall he be clean.

16 But if he does not wash and does not bathe, then he shall bear his iniquity.

See also: Leviticus 17 in ESV, HCSB, NASB and NIV via Bible Gateway.