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Verse Takeaways
1
Blood as the Symbol of Life
All commentators agree that this prohibition links blood directly to life. The 'soul' or life principle of a creature is represented by its blood. Because life is a sacred gift from God, the blood, its symbol, must be treated with reverence and not consumed. This establishes a foundational respect for life that prepares for the subsequent command against murder.
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Genesis
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Commentaries
5
Albert Barnes
On Genesis 9:1–7
18th Century
Theologian
2. מורא môrā' — “fear, reverence, awful deed.” חת chat — “dread, breaking of the courage.”
Noah is saved…
Charles Ellicott
On Genesis 9:4
19th Century
Bishop
But flesh... — The words are remarkable. Only flesh in its soul, its blood, you shall not eat. The Authorised Version is …
John Calvin
On Genesis 9:4
16th Century
Theologian
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof. Some explain this passage this way: ‘You may not eat a limb cut off from a li…
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John Gill
On Genesis 9:4
17th Century
Pastor
But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood
thereof, shall you not eat .
Th…
Matthew Henry
On Genesis 9:4–7
17th Century
Minister
The main reason for forbidding the eating of blood was undoubtedly because the shedding of blood in sacrifices was to remind worshippers of the gre…