Genesis 9:6
What does Genesis 9:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 9:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 9:6 means
This verse institutes capital punishment for murder, asserting that if someone takes a human life, their own life shall be forfeit. The reason given is profound: humanity is made in the image of God. This divine likeness imparts immense value and dignity to human life, making its unlawful taking a direct affront to the Creator. Capital punishment, therefore, is not merely retribution but an act to uphold the sacredness of God's image in humanity, demonstrating the severity of murder and establishing a basis for justice in society.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Whoever takes a man's life, by man will his life be taken; because God made man in his image.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man is his blood shed: for in the image of God hath He made man.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Whosoever shall shed man's blood, his blood shall be shed: for man was made to the image of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Whoso sheddeth Man's blood, by Man shall his blood be shed; for in the image ofGod he hath made Man.
Context
This verse directly follows God's declaration that He will require the life of man from those who shed it. It formalizes and delegates that divine requirement to human society, establishing the principle of capital punishment. This verse provides the ultimate rationale for such a severe consequence, grounding it in the doctrine of humanity being made in God's image, thereby laying a crucial foundation for human law and ethical conduct in the world that is to be repopulated.
v.5And 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.
v.6This passage
v.7And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 22:2
If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
- Leviticus 24:17
And he that smiteth any man mortally shall surely be put to death.
- Numbers 35:33
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
- Revelation 13:10
If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
- 1 Kings 2:5
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
- Matthew 26:52
Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
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