Genesis 9:5
What does Genesis 9:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 9:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 9:5 means
God declares that He will hold accountable anyone, human or beast, who takes a human life. This statement underscores the profound value of human life in God's eyes. The phrase "at the hand of every man's brother" indicates that this accountability extends to fellow humans, establishing a societal responsibility for justice. God's requirement of a "life for a life" reveals His unwavering commitment to upholding the sacredness of human beings, who are made in His image. This forms the basis for maintaining order and justice in the post-flood world.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And for your blood, which is your life, will I take payment; from every beast I will take it, and from every man will I take payment for the blood of his brother-man.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And only your blood for your lives do I require; from the hand of every living thing I require it, and from the hand of man, from the hand of every man's brother I require the life of man;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For I will require the blood of your lives at the hand of every beast, and at the hand of man, at the hand of every man, and of his brother, will I require the life of man.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And indeed your blood, [the blood] of your lives, will I require: at the hand of every animal will I require it, and at the hand of Man, at the hand of each [the blood] of his brother, will I require the life of Man.
Context
Following the prohibition against consuming blood as a representation of life, this verse dramatically escalates the discussion of life's sanctity to human life. It sets the immutable principle for the value of human life, preceding the formal institution of capital punishment. This verse establishes divine judgment on perpetrators of murder, providing the theological and moral groundwork for the subsequent command regarding the shedding of human blood.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 21:12
He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death.
- Deuteronomy 21:1
If one be found slain in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath smitten him;
- Leviticus 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah.
- Numbers 35:31
Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.
- Genesis 4:9
And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?
- Matthew 23:35
that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.
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