Genesis 9:4 kjv

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Genesis 9:4 nkjv

But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

Genesis 9:4 niv

"But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.

Genesis 9:4 esv

But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

Genesis 9:4 nlt

But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it.

Genesis 9 verses

Genesis 9 4 Meaning

Genesis 9:4 establishes a fundamental restriction on eating meat, specifically prohibiting the consumption of "flesh with its life, which is its blood." This foundational decree, given immediately after God's covenant with Noah following the global flood, emphasizes the sanctity of life. The life of a creature is explicitly equated with its blood, signifying that life itself belongs to God. Therefore, humans are granted permission to eat animals, but not in a way that disrespects the principle of life embodied in the blood. It sets a divine boundary on how humanity may interact with and utilize the created world, particularly concerning the life force of living beings.

Genesis 9 4 Context

Genesis chapter 9 begins with God blessing Noah and his sons, reissuing the command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, echoing the original creation mandate (Gen 1:28). Following the devastating flood that cleansed the earth of human wickedness, God establishes a new covenant with humanity and all living creatures, symbolized by the rainbow. Within this context, God grants humanity a significant shift in their diet. While previously humans were given only plants to eat (Gen 1:29), Noah and his descendants are now permitted to eat any living creature (Gen 9:3).

Verse 4 immediately follows this dietary expansion, providing a critical qualification. It introduces the first specific prohibition given to all humankind concerning the consumption of food: the prohibition against eating blood. This demonstrates that while new freedoms are granted, boundaries reflecting divine values and the sacredness of life are simultaneously established. The emphasis on blood as the life-force also sets the stage for later laws in the Mosaic Covenant and the ultimate significance of blood in redemptive history. This universal command, given pre-Mosaic Law, signifies a foundational moral and theological principle for all humanity.

Genesis 9 4 Word analysis

• But flesh: (וְאֶךְ בָּשָׂר - vəʾekh bāśār)

  • וְאֶךְ (vəʾekh): "But," "only." A restrictive particle indicating a strong qualification or exception to the preceding statement (permission to eat meat).
  • בָּשָׂר (bāśār): "Flesh," "meat," or "body." A general term for any living creature's edible part. The preceding word implies a precise specification for what kind of flesh.
  • Significance: This marks a shift from unrestricted permission to a limited freedom, showing God's specific command even amidst newly granted privileges.

• with the life thereof: (בְּנַפְשָׁהּ - bə-nap̄šāh)

  • בְּ (bə-): "With," indicating accompaniment or means.
  • נַפְשָׁהּ (nap̄šāh): Derived from nep̄eš (נֶפֶשׁ). Often translated as "soul," "life," "living being," or "breath." Here, it specifically refers to the animal's life principle, its animating essence. The suffix "-ah" is a possessive meaning "its" or "thereof."
  • Significance: Nep̄eš represents the vital animating principle that distinguishes a living creature from a dead one. Its presence emphasizes that it's the living, vibrant aspect of the animal that is not to be consumed along with the flesh. It's the life that God breathes into beings.

• which is the blood thereof: (דָּמוֹ הִיא - dāmô hīʾ)

  • דָּמוֹ (dāmô): From dām (דָּם), "blood." The suffix "-ô" is a possessive meaning "his" or "its."
  • הִיא (hīʾ): "She," "it is." Serves as a predicate nominative, unequivocally identifying nep̄eš (life) with dām (blood) in this context.
  • Significance: This is an explanatory clause, directly equating the "life" (nep̄eš) of the creature with its "blood" (dām). This is the theological bedrock for the prohibition. It's not merely a health regulation; it’s a respect for life's sanctity. Blood represents the physical manifestation of life and its ultimate return to the Creator. It highlights God's authority over life and death.

• shall ye not eat: (לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ - lōʾ tōk̄ēlū)

  • לֹא (lōʾ): "Not," a strong negative prohibition.
  • תֹאכֵלוּ (tōk̄ēlū): From ʾākal (אָכַל), "to eat," conjugated in the imperfect second person plural.
  • Significance: This is a clear, unequivocal command given directly to humanity, forbidding this specific consumption. It establishes a binding covenant instruction applicable universally, not just to a select group or future nation.

Genesis 9 4 Bonus section

The specific choice of words, linking nep̄eš (life/soul) with dām (blood), draws attention to the ancient understanding of vitality and spiritual essence. To the ancient world, and still today, the loss of blood equals the loss of life. This direct identification implies a concrete connection for an immediate understanding of the law.

The universality of this law is significant. Unlike many commands specific to Israel, this was given to Noah, making it applicable to all humanity as his descendants. This highlights its status as a foundational, covenantal instruction, rather than a uniquely Israelite ceremonial requirement.

Some theological scholars suggest a polemical aspect: this command likely served to counter common pagan practices in the Ancient Near East where blood was sometimes consumed in rituals believed to gain the strength or life force of the slaughtered animal, or to commune with deities through blood rites. God's prohibition distinctly separates the worship of the Creator from the practices of surrounding pagan cultures, reaffirming His exclusive ownership of life.

The consistency across the testaments regarding blood underscores a timeless principle. Though its practical application shifted from animal sacrifice to Christ's unique atonement, the reverence for life, embodied in blood, remains. The abstention from blood points not just to historical Jewish-Gentile unity but also to an enduring respect for the source of life—God Himself—and the powerful imagery of redemption in the shedding of Christ's blood.

Genesis 9 4 Commentary

Genesis 9:4 is a profound and foundational statement on the sanctity of life. By linking the prohibition of consuming blood directly to the concept that "the life of the flesh is in the blood," God imbues this command with deep theological meaning, extending beyond mere dietary restrictions.

This decree is not simply about hygiene or health, although physical well-being might be an ancillary benefit. Its primary purpose is to establish a moral and spiritual boundary for humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom and, by extension, with life itself. Life, in its essence (represented by blood), belongs to God. Humans are stewards, granted the privilege of consuming meat, but not in a way that presumes ownership over the life force. The blood is to be drained out, symbolizing that the life belongs to the Creator and is returned to the earth (Gen 9:5-6; Lev 17:13).

This pre-Mosaic law sets a precedent that is repeatedly affirmed and elaborated upon in the Mosaic Law (e.g., Lev 17:10-14; Deut 12:23-25). In the Levitical system, the principle that "the life is in the blood" forms the very basis for atonement: blood poured out on the altar symbolizes a life given in exchange for another, pointing prophetically to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ's blood for the forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:22).

The enduring nature of this principle is further highlighted in the New Testament. While many ceremonial dietary laws were superseded by Christ's declaration of all foods as clean (Mk 7:19), the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem specifically mandated that Gentile converts abstain from blood (Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25). This was not merely to accommodate Jewish sensibilities, but pointed to a continued ethical consideration. The ongoing abstinence from blood emphasizes reverence for life and its origin, demonstrating respect for foundational divine ordinances shared by the broader family of faith, contributing to unity in the nascent church.

In essence, Gen 9:4 teaches that true dominion over creation involves respectful stewardship, acknowledging God as the sole Giver and Taker of life. It serves as a reminder of our creaturely status and God's absolute sovereignty, fostering reverence for every life.