Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 17:11/אבן עזרא על ויקרא י״ז:י״א
אבנפש יכפר. בנפש שיש בו יכפר. והטעם נפש תחת נפש ויש מפרשים כמו על נפשותיכם ואין לו טעם אחר שאמר לכפר על נפשותיכם:
1THAT MAKETH ATONEMENT BY REASON OF THE LIFE.22. The blood makes atonement by the life which is in it.23 (makes atonement by reason of the life) as makes atonement with the life which is in it. The reason for the latter is life for life.24 There are others who explain ba-nefesh yekhapper (that maketh atonement by reason of the life) as, to make atonement for your souls.25 (by reason of the life) as for the soul, the reference being for the soul of the sinner. However, the latter makes no sense, for what reason is there for Scripture to say this after stating to make atonement for your souls?26