Prohibition of Blood Exegetical Approaches
This topic has not yet undergone editorial review Lesson in the Sanctity of Life Refraining from eating blood, the source or symbol of an animal's vitality and soul, reminds one of the sanctity of all life. Eating it would be repugnant and cruel.
Detrimental to Health Eating blood is detrimental to both one's physical and spiritual health.
Distancing from Idolatry Consuming blood is prohibited since it is related to idolatrous practices.
Sanctified to Hashem Since the blood of animals is thrown on the altar and sanctified to Hashem, it is not fit for human consumption.
1 Ramban also speaks of the blood's detrimental effects on human nature and its allocation to Hashem.2 Abarbanel brings many reasons for the prohibition; this is the third possibility he raises in his commentary on Vayikra 17 and Devarim 12.3 He also connects aspects of the prohibition to idolatrous practices.4 R. Hoffmann also suggests that the prohibition relates to the fact that the blood is sanctified to Hashem.5 In his comments to Vayikra 3 he, instead, explains that blood is prohibited since it Hashem's portion. It is possible that he differentiates between the reason for the prohibition with regards to domesticated animals (which are fit for sacrificing) and non-domesticated animals (which are not fit for sacrificing). Since the blood of the latter is not allocated to Hashem, there must be a different reason for the prohibition.6 He refers to both the spiritual and physical aspects.7 Abarbanel brings many reasons for the prohibition; this is the second possibility he raises in his commentary on Vayikra 17 and Devarim 12.8 He also relates the prohibition to idolatrous practices.9 Netziv distinguishes between the reason for the prohibition of eating the blood of domesticated and non-domesticated animals and maintains that only the latter is related to the negative effects it will have on man's nature.10 This is his first explanation for the command to cover the blood of birds and non-domesticated animals. Though he does not explicitly state that it is also the reason for the initial prohibition of blood, the two would seem to be connected.11 He maintains that this only relates to animals which are fit for sacrifices. The blood of such domesticated animals is prohibited for two reasons - its being apportioned to Hashem as atonement and the fact that it is the animal's soul. Non domesticated animals and birds are prohibited only for the second reason. 