Genesis 9:6

Context

9:6 “Whoever sheds human blood,¹

by other humans²

must his blood be shed;

for in God’s image³

God⁴ has made humankind.”

Genesis 6:3

Context
6:3 So the Lord said, “My spirit will not remain in⁵ humankind indefinitely,⁶ since⁷ they⁸ are mortal.⁹ They¹⁰ will remain for 120 more years.”¹¹

[9:6] ¹tn Heb “the blood of man.”

[9:6] ²tn Heb “by man,” a generic term here for other human beings.

[9:6] ³sn 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.

[9:6] ⁴tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[6:3] ⁵tn The verb form יָדוֹן (yadon) only occurs here. Some derive it from the verbal root דִּין (din, “to judge”) and translate “strive” or “contend with” (so NIV), but in this case one expects the form to be יָדִין (yadin). The Old Greek has “remain with,” a rendering which may find support from an Arabic cognate (see C. Westermann, Genesis, 1:375). If one interprets the verb in this way, then it is possible to understand רוּחַ (ruakh) as a reference to the divine life-giving spirit or breath, rather than the Lord’s personal Spirit. E. A. Speiser argues that the term is cognate with an Akkadian word meaning “protect” or “shield.” In this case, the Lord’s Spirit will not always protect humankind, for the race will suddenly be destroyed (E. A. Speiser, “YDWN, Gen. 6:3,” JBL 75 [1956]: 126-29).

[6:3] ⁶tn Or “forever.”

[6:3] ⁷tn The form בְּשַׁגַּם (bÿshagam) appears to be a compound of the preposition בְּ (beth, “in”), the relative שֶׁ (she, “who” or “which”), and the particle גַּם (gam, “also, even”). It apparently means “because even” (see BDB 980 s.v. שֶׁ).

[6:3] ⁸tn Heb “he”; the plural pronoun has been used in the translation since “man” earlier in the verse has been understood as a collective (“humankind”).

[6:3] ⁹tn Heb “flesh.”

[6:3] ¹⁰tn See the note on “they” earlier in this verse.

[6:3] ¹¹tn Heb “his days will be 120 years.” Some interpret this to mean that the age expectancy of people from this point on would be 120, but neither the subsequent narrative nor reality favors this. It is more likely that this refers to the time remaining between this announcement of judgment and the coming of the flood.