New International VersionAnd for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
New Living Translation“And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die.
English Standard VersionAnd for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man.
Berean Standard BibleAnd surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
King James BibleAnd 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.
New King James VersionSurely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
New American Standard BibleI certainly will require your lifeblood; from every animal I will require it. And from every person, from every man as his brother I will require the life of a person.
NASB 1995“Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
NASB 1977“And surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.
Legacy Standard BibleSurely I will require your lifeblood; from every living thing I will require it. And from every man, from each man’s brother I will require the life of man.
Amplified BibleFor your lifeblood I will most certainly require an accounting; from every animal [that kills a person] I will require it. And from man, from every man’s brother [that is, anyone who murders] I will require the life of man.
Christian Standard BibleAnd I will require a penalty for your lifeblood; I will require it from any animal and from any human; if someone murders a fellow human, I will require that person’s life.
Holman Christian Standard BibleI will require the life of every animal and every man for your life and your blood. I will require the life of each man’s brother for a man’s life.
American Standard VersionAnd 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.
English Revised VersionAnd 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.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationIn addition, I will demand your blood for your life. I will demand it from any animal or from any person. I will demand the life of any person [who kills] another person.
Good News TranslationIf anyone takes human life, he will be punished. I will punish with death any animal that takes a human life.
International Standard VersionAlso, I will certainly demand an accounting regarding bloodshed, from every animal and from every human being. I'll demand an accounting from every human being for the life of another human being.
NET BibleFor your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment. From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative.
New Heart English BibleAnd surely I will require a reckoning for your lifeblood; from every animal I will require it, and from humans. From every human being I will require it for the life of his fellow human being.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
World English BibleI will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd 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;
Young's Literal Translation '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;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd surely, your blood of your lives I will search out, from the hand of every living thing I will search it out, and from the hand of man; from the hand of a man's brother I will search out the life of man. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor 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.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor I will examine the blood of your lives at the hand of every beast. So also, at the hand of mankind, at the hand of each man and his brother, I will examine the life of mankind.
New American BibleIndeed for your own lifeblood I will demand an accounting: from every animal I will demand it, and from a human being, each one for the blood of another, I will demand an accounting for human life.
New Revised Standard VersionFor your own lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning: from every animal I will require it and from human beings, each one for the blood of another, I will require a reckoning for human life. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd surely your lifeblood will I f avenge; of every beast will I avenge it, and at the hand of man; and at the hand of a man and his brother will I avenge the life of man.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd however, your blood of your lives I shall require from the agency of every animal; it will be required from the agency of a man and I shall require the life of a man from the agency of a man and his brother. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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, even at the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationFor your blood of your lives will I require at the hand of all wild beasts, and I will require the life of man at the hand of his brother man.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Covenant of the Rainbow… 4But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. 5And surelyI will requirethe life of anymanor beastby whose handyour lifeblood is shed.I will demand an accountingfrom anyonewho takes the lifeof his fellow man:6Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.…
Cross References Exodus 21:12-14Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death. / If, however, he did not lie in wait, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. / But if a man schemes and acts willfully against his neighbor to kill him, you must take him away from My altar to be put to death.
Numbers 35:33-34Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. / Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”
Deuteronomy 19:10-13Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed. / If, however, a man hates his neighbor and lies in wait, attacks him and kills him, and then flees to one of these cities, / the elders of his city must send for him, bring him back, and hand him over to the avenger of blood to die. ...
Matthew 5:21-22You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Romans 13:4For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
Leviticus 24:17-21And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death. / Whoever kills an animal must make restitution—life for life. / If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: ...
Revelation 6:9-10And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. / And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”
Psalm 9:12For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
Isaiah 26:21For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
Ezekiel 33:6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’
Hebrews 12:24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
1 John 3:12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
1 John 3:15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.
Matthew 23:35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Luke 11:50-51As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, / from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.
Treasury of Scripture And 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. every. Exodus 21:12,28,29 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death… and at. Genesis 4:9,10 And the LORD said unto Cain, Whereis Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not:Am I my brother's keeper? … Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and downas a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: Iam the LORD. Numbers 35:31-33 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, whichis guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death… brother. Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Jump to Previous AccountingAnimalBeastBloodDemandFellowHandIndeedLivesPaymentReckoningRequireSurelyJump to Next AccountingAnimalBeastBloodDemandFellowHandIndeedLivesPaymentReckoningRequireSurelyGenesis 9 1.God blesses Noah and his sons, and grants them flesh for food.4.Blood and murder are forbidden.8.God's covenant, of which the rainbow was constituted a pledge.18.Noah's family replenishes the world.20.Noah plants a vineyard,21.Is drunken, and mocked by his son;25.Curses Canaan;26.Blesses Shem;27.Prays for Japheth, and dies.And surely I will require the life of any man or beastThis phrase emphasizes the sanctity of life, a principle established by God after the flood. The requirement of life for life underscores the seriousness of taking a life, whether by human or animal. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this reflects a divine mandate for justice and order. The inclusion of beasts suggests a comprehensive view of accountability, indicating that even animals are subject to divine justice. This principle is foundational for later legal codes, such as the Mosaic Law, which also prescribes consequences for animals that kill humans ( Exodus 21:28-29). by whose hand your lifeblood is shed.
The shedding of blood is a significant biblical motif representing the taking of life. Blood is seen as the life force (Leviticus 17:11), and its shedding is a grave offense. This phrase highlights the personal responsibility of the perpetrator, whether human or animal. The concept of bloodshed requiring atonement is further developed in the sacrificial system, where blood is used for purification and atonement (Hebrews 9:22). This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood was shed for the redemption of humanity (1 Peter 1:18-19). I will demand an accounting from anyone
This phrase indicates divine justice and accountability. God Himself will require an account, suggesting that human life is under His sovereign jurisdiction. This accountability is not merely a human legal matter but a divine one, reinforcing the idea that all actions are ultimately answerable to God. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are reminded that they will give an account to God for their lives (Romans 14:12). who takes the life of his fellow man:
The phrase underscores the prohibition against murder, a command that is later formalized in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13). The term "fellow man" emphasizes the shared humanity and inherent value of each person, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This intrinsic value is the basis for the commandment and reflects the relational aspect of human existence. The New Testament expands on this by teaching love for one's neighbor and even one's enemies (Matthew 5:44), pointing to the transformative ethic of the Kingdom of God. Persons / Places / Events 1. GodThe speaker in this verse, establishing a covenant with Noah and his descendants after the flood. 2. NoahThe recipient of God's covenant, representing humanity in this new post-flood world. 3. AnimalsIncluded in the accountability for shedding human blood, highlighting the sanctity of human life. 4. MankindThe broader human race, which is held accountable for the shedding of human blood. 5. The FloodThe preceding event that led to the establishment of this covenant, marking a new beginning for creation. Teaching Points Sanctity of Human LifeHuman life is sacred because it is made in the image of God. This verse emphasizes the value God places on life and the seriousness of taking it. Divine JusticeGod is just and requires accountability for actions, especially those that harm others. This principle should guide our interactions and respect for life. Moral ResponsibilityAs stewards of God's creation, humans have a responsibility to protect and preserve life, reflecting God's care and justice. Community and AccountabilityThis verse highlights the importance of community accountability, where both individuals and groups are responsible for upholding the sanctity of life. Role of AuthorityThe verse implies a structure where justice is maintained, pointing to the role of authorities in upholding God's standards. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Genesis 9:5?
2.How does Genesis 9:5 emphasize the sanctity of human life?
3.What responsibility does Genesis 9:5 assign to humanity regarding life?
4.How does Genesis 9:5 connect with the commandment "You shall not murder"?
5.How can we apply Genesis 9:5 to modern justice systems?
6.In what ways does Genesis 9:5 influence our view on capital punishment?
7.How does Genesis 9:5 address the sanctity of human life?
8.What does Genesis 9:5 imply about God's judgment on violence?
9.How does Genesis 9:5 relate to the concept of divine justice?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 9?
11.What constitutes the Noahide Laws?
12.Why does God pose questions?
13.Proverbs 24:10–12: Does this claim about rescuing those in peril conflict with stories of inaction or injustice found elsewhere in the Bible?
14.How can Jacob realistically claim to be 130 years old (Genesis 47:9) without contradicting known human lifespans?What Does Genesis 9:5 Mean And surely I will require the lifeGod Himself says He will “require” life. This isn’t a vague warning; it’s a promise that He actively oversees justice. • The phrase echoes the seriousness found later inPsalm 9:12, where He “avenges blood.” • It reminds us that the Judge of all the earth always does right (Genesis 18:25), assuring Noah—and us—that wrongdoing never escapes His notice.
of any man or beastResponsibility is universal. • Humans are accountable (Exodus 21:12), and even animals face consequences (Exodus 21:28-29). •Genesis 1:28 shows mankind was given dominion over creatures, but dominion never grants permission to destroy life carelessly. Both man and beast stand under God’s moral gaze.
by whose hand your lifeblood is shed“Lifeblood” connects life and blood inseparably (Leviticus 17:11). • Shedding blood equals ending life, so this clause underscores the gravity of murder, echoing the later command, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). • It reinforces that human life, uniquely bearing God’s image (Genesis 1:27), is to be protected at all costs.
I will demand an accountingJustice requires a reckoning. • This anticipates courts of law established in passages likeDeuteronomy 16:18 andRomans 13:4, where governing authorities act as God’s servants for justice. • The word “accounting” conveys the idea that actions are tracked and must be explained—nothing is swept under the rug.
from anyone who takes the life of his fellow manThe clause personalizes the command: “fellow man” highlights the community bond. • Cain’s story inGenesis 4:8-10 illustrates how violating that bond brings divine inquiry: “Where is your brother?” • Capital punishment, introduced explicitly in the next verse (Genesis 9:6), is not about vengeance but about upholding the sanctity of life created in God’s image.
summaryGenesis 9:5 declares God’s unwavering commitment to safeguard human life. Whether the offender is a person or an animal, God promises to call the guilty to account. The verse sets a post-Flood moral foundation: life belongs to God, blood symbolizes that life, and justice—sometimes extending to capital punishment—is God’s ordained means to honor His image in humanity. (5) Your blood of your lives. . . . --This verse should be translated: "And surely your blood, which isfor your souls, will I require ( i.e.,avenge); from every beast will I require it, and from man: even from a man's brother will I require the soul of man," as from Cain. "Your blood, which is for your souls," means that it is the means for the maintenance of the animal life within them. As it is, then, the support of man's life, au animal which sheds it becomes guilty, and must be slain; and still more must those animals be destroyed which prey upon man. Thus there is a command given for the extirpation of the carnivora at the time when the more peaceful animals had just been saved. The last clause literally is . . . at the hand of man, at the hand of one that is his brother, will I require the soul of man.This has nothing to do with the avenger of blood. The near kinsman is here the murderer, and the commandment requires that even such an one should not be spared. Verse 5. - And surely. Again the conjunction אַך introduces a restriction. The blood of beasts might without fear be shed for necessary uses, but the blood of man was holy and inviolable. Following the LXX. ( καὶ γὰρ), Jerome, Pererius, Mercerus, Calvin, Peele, Willet give a causal sense to the conjunction, as if it supplied the reason of' the foregoing restriction - a sense which, according to Furst ('Hebrews Lex.,' sub nom.) it sometimes, though rarely, has; as in 2 Kings 24:3; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 68:22; but in each case אַך is better rendered "surely." Your blood of your lives.(1)For your souls,i.e. in requital for them -lex talionis, blood for blood, life for life (Kalisch, Wordsworth, Bush); (2) for your souls,i.e. for their protection (Gesenins, Miehaelis, Schumann, Tuch); (3)from your souls - a prohibition against suicide (Suma-tan); . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew And surelyוְאַ֨ךְ(wə·’aḵ)Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 389:A particle of affirmation, surelyI will requireאֶדְרֹ֔שׁ(’eḏ·rōš)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1875:To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worshipthe life of anyכָּל־(kāl-)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everymanהָֽאָדָ֗ם(hā·’ā·ḏām)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120:Ruddy, a human beingor beastחַיָּ֖ה(ḥay·yāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2416:Alive, raw, fresh, strong, lifeby whose handמִיַּד֙(mî·yaḏ)Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027:A handyour lifeblood [is shed].לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙(lə·nap̄·šō·ṯê·ḵem)Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5315:A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotionI will demand an accountingאֶדְרֹ֖שׁ(’eḏ·rōš)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1875:To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worshipfrom anyoneהָֽאָדָֽם׃(hā·’ā·ḏām)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120:Ruddy, a human being[who takes] the lifeנֶ֥פֶשׁ(ne·p̄eš)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315:A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotionof his fellow man:אִ֣ישׁ(’îš)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male person
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OT Law: Genesis 9:5 I will surely require your blood (Gen. Ge Gn) |
