Genesis 9:4

Translations

Modern

But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

Traditional

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Literal

But flesh with its life—its blood—you shall not eat.

Latin

Excepto, quod carnem cum sanguine non comedetis.

Original

Hebrew

English

But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.

Notes

Genesis 9:4

God gives an important restriction. Blood represents life (it stands for life), so it had to be drained from an animal before its meat could be eaten (see Leviticus 3:17; 7:26–27; 17:10–14; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23).

The Law of Moses also forbade eating animals that died naturally, because their blood had not been drained (Deuteronomy 14:21). God provided animal blood to atone for human sin (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22).

Genesis 9:1–7

God's first speech after the great flood starts and ends with a blessing (9:1, 7). In this speech, God explains again how humans and animals relate to each other, with some changes from the original creation. God gives special attention to the value of life (the importance of protecting human life).

Theme notes and profiles

Noah God’s Covenant with David God’s Covenant with Noah God’s Covenants God’s New Covenant Symbolic Numbers

Events

God makes a covenant with Noahc. 2347 BC

Related verses

Deuteronomy 12:23
Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.
Deuteronomy 15:23
But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
Deuteronomy 12:16
…but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
Acts 15:20
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
Leviticus 7:26
You must not eat the blood of any bird or animal in any of your dwellings.
Acts 15:29
You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
Leviticus 17:10–14
If anyone from the house of Israel or a foreigner living among them eats any blood, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from among his people.
Leviticus 3:17
This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”
Leviticus 19:26
You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.
1 Timothy 4:4
For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,
1 Samuel 14:33–34
Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”
Acts 15:25
So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Blood Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Dietary Laws Genesis, Book of Land Mesopotamia Noah Patriarchs, Period of the Shinar The Flood

Topics

Beasts: Not to be Eaten Alive or with Blood Blood is the Life Blood Transfusions Blood: Eating of, Forbidden to Man After the Flood Blood: Forbidden to be Used As Food Blood: The Life of Animals Covenant of God with Men: Everlasting Drinking Blood The Blood Vegetarianism

Genesis 9:4

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Translations

Original

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Related verses

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