Genesis 9:6
New International Version
“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.

New Living Translation
If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.

English Standard Version
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Berean Standard Bible
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

King James Bible
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

New King James Version
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

New American Standard Bible
“Whoever sheds human blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made mankind.

NASB 1995
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

NASB 1977
“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

Legacy Standard Bible
Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

Amplified Bible
“Whoever sheds man’s blood [unlawfully], By man (judicial government) shall his blood be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

Christian Standard Bible
Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, for God made humans in his image.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image.

American Standard Version
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

English Revised Version
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, because in the image of God, God made humans.

Good News Translation
Human beings were made like God, so whoever murders one of them will be killed by someone else.

International Standard Version
"Whoever sheds human blood, by a human his own blood is to be shed; because God made human beings in his own image.

Majority Standard Bible
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

NET Bible
"Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed; for in God's image God has made humankind."

New Heart English Bible
Whoever takes a human life, by a human will his life be taken, for God made humankind in his own image.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

World English Bible
Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
whoever sheds man’s blood, by man is his blood shed: for in the image of God has He made man.

Young's Literal Translation
whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man is his blood shed: for in the image of God hath He made man.

Smith's Literal Translation
He pouring out man's blood, by man his blood shall be poured out: for in the image of God he made man.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whosoever shall shed man's blood, his blood shall be shed: for man was made to the image of God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever will shed human blood, his blood will be poured out. For man was indeed made to the image of God.

New American Bible
Anyone who sheds the blood of a human being, by a human being shall that one’s blood be shed; For in the image of God have human beings been made.

New Revised Standard Version
Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person’s blood be shed; for in his own image God made humankind.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whoever sheds the blood of men, by men shall his blood be shed; for man was made in the image of God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Whoever will shed the blood of man, by man his blood shall be shed, because Adam was made in the image of God.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that sheds man's blood, instead of that blood shall his own be shed, for in the image of God I made man.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Covenant of the Rainbow
5And 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: 6Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind. 7But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out across the earth and multiply upon it.”…

Cross References
Exodus 21:12-14
Whoever 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 35:30-34
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness. / You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death. / Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. ...

Leviticus 24:17
And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 19:11-13
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. / You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you.

Matthew 26:52
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Romans 13:4
For 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.

Revelation 13:10
“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.

Matthew 5:21-22
You 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.

1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

Proverbs 28:17
A man burdened by bloodguilt will flee into the Pit; let no one support him.

Psalm 106:38
They shed innocent blood—the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

Isaiah 26:21
For 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.

Jeremiah 7:6
if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm,

Ezekiel 18:10-13
Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things, / though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife. / He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations. ...

Hosea 4:2
Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

by.

Exodus 21:12-14
He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death…

Exodus 22:2,3
If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him…

Leviticus 17:4
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

in.

Genesis 1:26,27
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth…

Genesis 5:1
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Psalm 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

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Blood Image Life Shed Sheddeth Sheds
Genesis 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.














Whoever sheds the blood of man
This phrase establishes a universal principle of justice. The Hebrew word for "sheds" is "shaphak," which implies a deliberate act of spilling or pouring out, often used in the context of bloodshed or violence. The phrase underscores the sanctity of human life, rooted in the belief that life is a divine gift. Historically, this principle has been foundational in the development of legal systems that value human life and seek to deter murder through the establishment of consequences.

by man his blood will be shed
Here, the text introduces the concept of human responsibility in administering justice. The Hebrew word "adam" for "man" is used, which can refer to humanity collectively or an individual person. This phrase suggests a divinely sanctioned human role in executing justice, reflecting the seriousness with which God views the taking of life. It implies a societal responsibility to uphold justice, which has influenced the development of legal and governmental systems throughout history.

for in His own image
The phrase "in His own image" refers back to Genesis 1:27, where God creates mankind in His image. The Hebrew word "tselem" for "image" signifies a representation or likeness. This theological concept is foundational, affirming the inherent dignity and worth of every human being. It serves as the basis for the sanctity of life, emphasizing that human life is sacred because it reflects God's own nature.

God has made mankind
The act of creation is attributed directly to God, using the Hebrew word "bara," which means to create or bring into existence. This underscores the divine origin and intentionality behind human life. The phrase highlights the unique relationship between God and humanity, as well as the responsibility humans have to honor and protect life. It serves as a reminder of the divine authority over life and death, and the moral obligations that flow from being made in God's image.

(6) 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 safeguards as the civil law in each country shall order, is to execute the Divine command. And thus protected from violence, both of man and beast, and with all such terrible crimes for bidden as had polluted Adam's beginning, Noah in peace and security is to commence afresh man's great work upon earth.

Verse 6. - Whoso sheddeth. Literally, he shedding, i.e. willfully and unwarrantably; and not simply accidentally, for which kind of manslaughter the law afterwards provided (vide Numbers 35:11); or judicially, for that is commanded by the present statute. Man's blood. Literally, blood of the man, human blood. By man. Not openly and directly by God, but by man himself, acting of course as God's instrument and agent - an instruction which involved the setting up of the magisterial office, by whom the sword might be borne ("Hic igitur fens est, ex quo manat totum jus civile etjus gentium." - Luther. Cf. Numbers 35:29-31; Romans 13:4), and equally laid a basis for the law of the goel subsequently established in Israel (Deuteronomy 19:6; Joshua 20:3). The Chaldee paraphrases, "with witnesses by sentence of the judges." The LXX. substitutes for "by man" ἀντὶ τοῦ αἵματος αὐτοῦ ( an interpretation followed by Professor Lewis, who quotes Jona ben Gannach in its support, Shall. Not merely a permission legalizing, but an imperative command enjoining, capital punishment, the reason for which follows. For in the image of God made he man. To apply this to the magistracy (Bush, Murphy, Keil), who are sometimes in Scripture styled Elohim (Psalm 82:6), and the ministers of God (Romans 13:4), and who may be said to have been made in the Divine image in the sense of being endowed with the capacity of ruling and judging, seems forced and unnatural; the clause obviously assigns the original dignity of man (cf. Genesis 1:28) as the reason why the murderer cannot be suffered to escape (Calvin, Poole, Alford, 'Speaker's Commentary,' Candlish, Lange)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Whoever sheds
שֹׁפֵךְ֙ (šō·p̄êḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

the blood
דַּ֣ם (dam)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

of man,
הָֽאָדָ֔ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

by man
בָּֽאָדָ֖ם (bā·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

his blood
דָּמ֣וֹ (dā·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

will be shed;
יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ (yiš·šā·p̄êḵ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

for
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

in His own
אֱלֹהִ֔ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

image
בְּצֶ֣לֶם (bə·ṣe·lem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6754: A phantom, illusion, resemblance, a representative figure, an idol

God has made
עָשָׂ֖ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

mankind.
הָאָדָֽם׃ (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT Law: Genesis 9:6 Whoever sheds man's blood his blood will (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 9:5
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