Genesis 9:6
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Study Note
Study Note
The lex talionis principle 'whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man' grounds the severity of the prohibition against homicide not in social utility but in the theological dignity of the human being as the divine image-bearer. The imago Dei (tselem Elohim) of Genesis 1:26-27 here functions as the anthropological foundation of criminal justice — to destroy a human being is to assault the divine image in which that person was made. The Noahic covenant context (9:1-17) makes this a universal law for all humanity after the flood, not restricted to Israel — giving it a natural-law or human-rights grounding that transcends the Mosaic covenant. Paul's acknowledgement of governmental authority to 'bear the sword' (Romans 13:4) has historically been read as the New Testament appropriation of this Noahic principle for political philosophy.
Other Translations
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man is his blood shed: for in the image of God hath He made man.
Whoever takes a man's life, by man will his life be taken; because God made man in his image.
Cross References
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the …
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created …
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I …
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of …
He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine …
If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for …
If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; …
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord …
And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.