# blood

## Definition:

The term “blood” refers to the red liquid that comes out of a person’s skin when there is an injury or wound. Blood brings life-giving nutrients to a person’s entire body. In the Bible, the term “blood” is often used figuratively to mean “life” and/or several other concepts.

* When people made sacrifices to God, they killed an animal and poured its blood on the altar. This symbolized the sacrifice of the animal’s life to pay for people’s sins.
* The expression “flesh and blood” refers to human beings.
* The expression “own flesh and blood” refers to people who are biologically related.

## Translation Suggestions:

* This term should be translated with the term that is used for blood in the target language.
* The expression “flesh and blood” could be translated as “people” or “human beings.”
* Depending on the context, the expression “my own flesh and blood” could be translated as “my own family” or “my own relatives” or “my own people.”
* If there is an expression in the target language that is used with this meaning, that expression could be used to translate “flesh and blood.”

(See also: [bloodshed](../other/bloodshed.md); [flesh](../kt/flesh.md); [life](../kt/life.md))

## Bible References:

* [1 John 1:7](rc://en/tn/help/1jn/01/07)
* [1 Samuel 14:32](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/14/32)
* [Acts 2:20](rc://en/tn/help/act/02/20)
* [Acts 5:28](rc://en/tn/help/act/05/28)
* [Colossians 1:20](rc://en/tn/help/col/01/20)
* [Galatians 1:16](rc://en/tn/help/gal/01/16)
* [Genesis 4:11](rc://en/tn/help/gen/04/11)
* [Psalms 16:4](rc://en/tn/help/psa/016/4)
* [Psalms 105:28-30](rc://en/tn/help/psa/105/028)

## Examples from the Bible stories:

* __[8:3](rc://en/tn/help/obs/08/03)__ Before Joseph’s brothers returned home, they tore Joseph’s robe and dipped it in goat’s __blood__.
* __[10:3](rc://en/tn/help/obs/10/03)__ God turned the Nile River into __blood__, but Pharaoh still would not let the Israelites go.
* __[11:5](rc://en/tn/help/obs/11/05)__ All the houses of the Israelites had __blood__ around the doors, so God passed over those houses and everyone inside was safe. They were saved because of the lamb’s __blood__.
* __[13:9](rc://en/tn/help/obs/13/09)__ The __blood__ of the animal that was sacrificed covered the person’s sin and made that person clean in God’s sight.
* __[38:5](rc://en/tn/help/obs/38/05)__ Then Jesus took a cup and said, “Drink this. It is my __blood__ of the New Covenant that is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.”
* __[48:10](rc://en/tn/help/obs/48/10)__ When anyone believes in Jesus, the __blood__ of Jesus takes away that person’s sin, and God’s punishment passes over him.

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H1818, H5332, G01290, G01300, G01310
