2. The Importance of and Uses of Blood
SDA Dictionary, Commentary Reference Series, Volume 8, p. 149, 95 says:
“Blood. The Hebrew dam; Greek haina. The vital fluid circulating through the body, carrying nourishment and oxygen to all parts of the body and carrying off waste products to be excreted (Lev. 17:11, 14; Deut. 12: 23). The ancients were unaware of these detailed functions, but they recognized that the blood was closely connected with life. The Law declared, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). The ancients were forbidden to eat blood (Gen. 9: 3, 4; Lev. 17: 10-14; Acts 15: 20, 29). This prohibition doubtless had a hygienic basis, but may have been designed to have instructional value as well. The most significant use of blood in Old Testament times was in the sacrificial services and more largely in the sanctuary services.
The shed blood foreshadowed the blood of Christ, the priceless life of the Son of God that was to be sacrificed as the only hope of a fallen and doomed race (1 Cor. 10:16; Eph. 2:13; Heb. 9:14; 10:19; 1 Pet. 1: 2, 19; Rev. 12:11). Salvation through the blood of Christ is the central theme of the gospel (Rom. 3:25; 5:9; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:22; Rev. 1:5, etc).”