For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, х nepesh (H5315)]. The vital principle, as existing in the body, resides in the blood, and hence, is distinguished from х nishaamaah (H5397)] breath of life (Genesis 2:7).
I have given it to you upon the altar. God, as the sovereign Author and Proprietor of nature, reserved the blood to Himself, and allowed men only one use of it-in the way of sacrifices. Since the eating of the sacrifice was to be an image of the complete dedication of the sacrifice, and of the propitiation effected by it, and as the expiation was especially the effect of the blood, so the eating of the blood was absolutely prohibited, in order to indicate that, with all their offerings, a real expiation for their sins had not been made (Michaelis, 'Paraphrase and Observations on the Epistle to the (Galatians,' 3:, 19).