Definition: And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 17:4. It's a pretty important passage about holiness and sacrifice in the Old Testament. Here’s what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that offering blood – like a sacrifice – was only allowed within the walls of the Tabernacle (a special building dedicated to God) and at specific times. Anything offered outside of this designated space was considered unclean and would be rejected by God. Let’s look at it word-by-word: “And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle…” : This means it wasn't being offered outside of the Tabernacle, which was a place of holiness and worship dedicated to God. “…of the tabernacle of the congregation” : This refers to the specific Temple in Jerusalem – the central place where God lived and interacted with his people. “to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle…” : This is the key part. It meant that sacrifices (offerings) were only made within the Tabernacle. It was a special time for worship and communion with God. “blood shall be imputed unto that man…” : This is where it gets serious. “Imputed” means to be covered or forgiven. So, this phrase means that the person who shed blood – that’s a very significant word – was covered by forgiveness and made right with God. “he hath shed blood…” : This directly states that they have committed a sin – they have lost their innocence, or have been forgiven of a transgression. “and that man shall be cut off from among his people” : This is the consequence. Because of this sin, the person is now excluded from being part of God’s community – they are no longer considered a member of the “people” (the Israelites). What does it mean in simpler terms? Basically, this verse emphasizes that true worship and connection with God requires purity and adherence to specific rules. Offering blood was a way to show your devotion to God and to be recognized as holy. It was a way of demonstrating that you were cleansed and ready for closer relationship with the divine. Important Context: This verse is part of a larger tradition about ritual purity in the Old Testament. It’s about maintaining holiness and recognizing God's presence through righteous living. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Discuss the significance of blood sacrifice in ancient Jewish practice? Connect this passage to other biblical stories or teachings?