Blood. The blood of an animal is declared to be "the life" of it. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11. And hence God may be said to have reserved it to himself; it was not to be eaten; it was that by which sacrificial atonement was made; all the cleansings of the law being by the shedding and sprinkling of blood. Hebrews 9:18-22. In this respect it had a typical meaning. The blood-shedding of the Mosaic victims prefigured that greater and more efficacious blood-shedding, when Christ gave his life for mankind, Matthew 20:28; 1 John 3:16; so that his blood "cleanseth from all sin." 1 John 1:7. Further, when blood was shed wantonly, a curse was incurred. The blood of a bird or animal was to be poured upon the ground and covered up, Leviticus 17:13; and the blood of a man cried for vengeance against the murderer. Genesis 4:10-11. Hence the command to Noah that a murderer must be put to death, Genesis 9:6, a command sanctioned in the Mosaic legislation, Numbers 35:30-31; Numbers 35:33, a command which it would be hard to prove not intended to be binding as an universal law upon the world. And, if any one was slain, and the slayer could not be found, the nearest city was to make an atonement. Deuteronomy 21:1-9. In the earlier law it is written, "Surely your blood of your lives will I require... At the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Genesis 9:5-6. In the Lord's Supper we are reminded of Christ's giving his life for us. He said: "This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:20; Mark 14:24. Our ascription of praise is: "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." See Sacrifice.