Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
Verse Takeaways
1
The Mandate for Government
Commentators unanimously identify this verse as the foundational principle for civil government's authority to punish murder. God delegates the 'sword' of justice to humanity ('by man shall his blood be shed'), establishing a mandate for legal systems to protect life. This is not a call for personal revenge, but for organized, societal justice.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
Genesis
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
See Overview
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 9:6
19th Century
Bishop
By man ... — This penalty of life for life is not to be left to natural law, but man himself, in such a manner and under such safe…
John Calvin
On Genesis 9:6
16th Century
Theologian
Concerning the scriptural declaration, Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, the accompanying phrase “in man” serves to amplify its meaning. Some ex…
Go Ad-Free
Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library
John Gill
On Genesis 9:6
17th Century
Pastor
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed ,
&c.]
That is, he that is guilty of wilful murder…
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…