Verse 17 develops further the concluding statement at the end of the previous verse. It emphasizes the absolute character of the prohibition against the eating of fat or blood.

A perpetual statute throughout your generations: this phrase occurs seventeen times in Leviticus. It indicates a rule that is to be observed by all Israelites for all time. The rule forbidding the eating of blood or fat was to apply not only to the Israelites living at that time, but also to all future generations. This expression must be translated in such a way as to include both. It may be rendered “This regulation is to last for all time…” (Moffatt), or “This is a rule for all time from generation to generation…” (New English Bible), or “This is a permanent law for all your descendants.”

In all your dwelling places: it has been suggested that the emphasis here is not on the individual houses in which Israelites dwell, but on the fact that this rule is to apply in whatever country they may live. If they were living outside the Promised Land they could not offer sacrifices, but they would still have to abstain from eating blood or fat. However, it is more likely that these words mean “anywhere in Palestine” (compare Ezek 6.6, 14). Some possible models of translation are: “all over the country” (Moffatt); “wherever you may live” (New Jerusalem Bible); “wherever you live” (New International Version and New English Bible). Good News Translation has “wherever they live,” with the focus on future generations.

Neither fat nor blood: in some languages it may be necessary to specify “the blood or any fatty parts (of the animals).” This is especially true in those languages where there is no distinction between animal fat and vegetable oil, since the consumption of vegetable oil is not forbidden. The mention of blood, the symbol of life (see 17.10-14), completes the picture.

It may be more natural to reverse the order of the two propositions in this verse, as has been done by Good News Translation. That is, the rule against eating fat or blood may be stated first and then followed by the requirements regarding time and place.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .