Topical Encyclopedia The shedding of human blood is a theme that runs deeply throughout the Scriptures, consistently portrayed as an act that is detestable and abhorrent to God. From the earliest chapters of Genesis to the prophetic writings, the Bible underscores the sanctity of human life and the divine prohibition against murder.Genesis 4:10-11 introduces the gravity of shedding human blood with the account of Cain and Abel. After Cain kills his brother Abel, the Lord confronts him, saying, "What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand" . This passage highlights the seriousness with which God views the act of murder, as Abel's blood metaphorically cries out for justice. The Noahic Covenant further establishes the divine mandate against the shedding of human blood. In Genesis 9:5-6, God declares, "And 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: Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind" . This covenantal stipulation underscores the intrinsic value of human life, rooted in the imago Dei, the image of God. The Mosaic Law reiterates this divine abhorrence of murder. In the Ten Commandments, God commands, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). This commandment is foundational to the moral and legal code given to Israel, reflecting God's desire for justice and the protection of human life. The prophets also speak against the shedding of innocent blood, often associating it with the corruption and moral decay of society. In Isaiah 59:7, the prophet laments, "Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake" . This passage illustrates how the shedding of blood is symptomatic of a broader departure from God's righteous standards. In the New Testament, Jesus amplifies the commandment against murder by addressing the heart's intentions. In the Sermon on the Mount, He teaches, "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" (Matthew 5:21-22). Here, Jesus emphasizes that the root of murder—anger and hatred—is equally detestable to God. The apostolic writings continue this theme, urging believers to love one another and reject hatred, which can lead to murder. The Apostle John writes, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer" (1 John 3:15). This teaching reinforces the idea that the sanctity of life is not only a matter of external actions but also of internal attitudes. Throughout Scripture, the shedding of human blood is consistently condemned as an act that violates the sanctity of life and the moral order established by God. It is a transgression that cries out for divine justice and is met with severe consequences, reflecting God's unwavering commitment to uphold the value of every human life created in His image. Torrey's Topical Textbook Proverbs 6:16,17These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination to him: Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Of the Crimes of the Wicked, and the Torture Inflicted on the ... Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ... Christ Rightly and Properly Said to have Merited Grace and ... Faustus is Willing to Admit that Christ May have Said that He came ... How Christ Performed the Office of Redeemer in Procuring Our ... Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ... Bunsen's Biblical Researches. Peter Stood Up. Morality and Doctrine Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ... Resources Do the news reports of rivers turning blood red have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.orgIs pleading the blood of Jesus biblical? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about donating blood/blood donations? | GotQuestions.org Blood: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Blood of Animals Slain for Good to be Poured on the Earth Blood of Legal Sacrifices for Atonement Blood of Legal Sacrifices for Purification Blood of Legal Sacrifices: How Disposed of Blood of Legal Sacrifices: Ineffectual to Remove Sin Blood of Legal Sacrifices: Not offered With Leaven Blood of Oppression and Cruelty Blood of Sacrifices, Typical of the Atoning Blood of Christ Blood: (Building With) of Oppression and Cruelty Blood: (Given to Drink) of Severe Judgments Blood: (On One's own Head) Guilt Blood: (Preparing To) Ripening for Destruction Blood: (Washing the Feet In) Victories Blood: Beasts of Prey Delight In Blood: Birds of Prey Delight In Blood: Blood of the Ram of Consecration Put on the Tip of Right Ear, Thumb Blood: Eating of, Forbidden to Man After the Flood Blood: Eating of, Forbidden to The Early Christians Blood: Eating of, Forbidden to The Israelites Under the Law Blood: Forbidden to be Used As Food Blood: Idolaters Made Drink-Offerings of Blood: Sacrificial of the Bullock of Sin offering, Put on the Horns of the Altar Blood: Sacrificial used for Cleansing of Leprosy Blood: Sacrificial without Shedding of, No Remission Blood: Sacrificial: On the Horns of the Altar of Sweet Incense Blood: Sacrificial: Poured at the Bottom of the Altar Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled About the Altar Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled all Around, and Upon the Altar Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on Altar and People Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on Door Posts Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on the Altar Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on the Mercy Seat Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled Seven Times Before the Curtain Blood: Shedding of Human: Always Punished Blood: Shedding of Human: Defiling to the Land Blood: Shedding of Human: Defiling to the Person Blood: Shedding of Human: Forbidden Blood: Shedding of Human: Hateful to God Blood: Shedding of Human: Jews often Guilty of Blood: Shedding of Human: Mode of Clearing Those Accused of Blood: The Jews often Guilty of Eating Blood: The Price of, not to be Consecrated Blood: Water Turned Into, As a Sign Blood: Waters of Egypt Turned Into, As a Judgment Related Terms Blood-guiltiness (4 Occurrences) Blood-shedding (2 Occurrences) Bloodguiltiness (15 Occurrences) |
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