Genesis 9:4

9:4 But ¹  you must not eat meat ²  with its life (that is, ³  its blood) in it. ⁴ 

Genesis 9:6

9:6 “Whoever sheds human blood, ⁵ 

by other humans ⁶ 

must his blood be shed;

for in God’s image ⁷ 

God ⁸  has made humankind.”

Genesis 37:26

37:26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

Genesis 42:22

42:22 Reuben said to them, “Didn’t I say to you, ‘Don’t sin against the boy,’ but you wouldn’t listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!” ⁹ 

¹ tn Heb “only.”

² tn Or “flesh.”

³ tn Heb “its life, its blood.” The second word is in apposition to the first, explaining what is meant by “its life.” Since the blood is equated with life, meat that had the blood in it was not to be eaten.

⁴ tn The words “in it” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁵ tn Heb “the blood of man.”

⁶ tn Heb “by man,” a generic term here for other human beings.

⁷ sn See the notes on the words “humankind” and “likeness” in Gen 1:26, as well as J. Barr, “The Image of God in the Book of Genesis – A Study of Terminology,” BJRL 51 (1968/69): 11-26.

⁸ tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁹ tn Heb “and also his blood, look, it is required.” God requires compensation, as it were, from those who shed innocent blood (see Gen 9:6). In other words, God exacts punishment for the crime of murder.