Genesis 9:3-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 9:1-7

In general, God blessed Noah and his sons (Gen. 9:1), that is, he assured them of his good-will to them and his gracious intentions concerning them. This follows from what he said in his heart. Note, All God's promises of good flow from his purposes of love and the counsels of his own will. See Eph. 1:11; 3:11. and compare Jer. 29:11. I know the thoughts that I think towards you. We read (Gen. 8:20) how Noah blessed God, by his altar and sacrifice. Now here we find God blessing Noah. Note, God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:3

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you ,.... That is, every beast, fowl, and fish, without exception; for though there was a difference at this time of clean and unclean creatures with respect to sacrifice, yet not with respect to food; every creature of God was good then, as it is now, and it was left to man's reason and judgment what to make use of, as would be most conducive to his health, and agreeable to his taste: and though there was a distinction afterwards made under... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:4

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall you not eat. This is the only exception to the eating of flesh; it was not to be eaten with the blood in it, which is said to be its life; not that the blood is of itself the life, but because it is a means of life, and that being exhausted, the creature must die, and because the animal and vital spirits appear to us most vigorous in it; yea, it is the ailment and support of them, and which furnishes out the greatest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:5

And surely your blood of your lives will I require ,.... Or "for surely your blood", &c.; F15 και γαρ , Sept. "enim", V. L. ; and so is a reason of the preceding law, to teach men not to shed human blood; or though, "surely your blood", as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; though God had given them liberty to slay the creatures, and shed their blood, and eat them, yet he did not allow them to shed their own blood, or the blood of their fellow creatures; should they do this, he would surely... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:6

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed ,.... That is, he that is guilty of wilful murder shall surely be put to death by the order of the civil magistrate; so the Targum of Jonathan,"by witnesses the judges shall condemn him to death,'that is, the fact being clearly proved by witnesses, the judges shall condemn"him to death,'that is, the fact being clearly proved by witnesses, the judges shall pass the sentence of death upon him, and execute it; for this is but the law of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:3

Every moving thing - shall be meat - There is no positive evidence that animal food was ever used before the flood. Noah had the first grant of this kind, and it has been continued to all his posterity ever since. It is not likely that this grant would have been now made if some extraordinary alteration had not taken place in the vegetable world, so as to render its productions less nutritive than they were before; and probably such a change in the constitution of man as to render a grosser... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:4

But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood - Though animal food was granted, yet the blood was most solemnly forbidden, because it was the life of the beast, and this life was to be offered to God as an atonement for sin. Hence the blood was ever held sacred, because it was the grand instrument of expiation, and because it was typical of that blood by which we enter into the holiest. 1. Before the deluge it was not eaten, because animal food was not in use. 2. After the deluge it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:5

Surely your blood - will I require; at the hand of every beast - This is very obscure, but if taken literally it seems to be an awful warning against cruelty to the brute creation; and from it we may conclude that horse-racers, hare-hunters, bull-baiters, and cock-fighters shall be obliged to give an account to God for every creature they have wantonly destroyed. Instead of חיה chaiyah , "beast," the Samaritan reads Yod Kaph chai , "living," any "living creature or person;" this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:6

Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood - Hence it appears that whoever kills a man, unless unwittingly, as the Scripture expresses it, shall forfeit his own life. A man is accused of the crime of murder; of this crime he is guilty or he is not: if he be guilty of murder he should die; if not, let him be punished according to the demerit of his crime; but for no offense but murder should he lose his life. Taking away the life of another is the highest offense that can be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:3

Verse 3 3.Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you. The Lord proceeds further, and grants animals for food to men, that they may eat their flesh. And because Moses now first relates that this right was given to men, nearly all commentators infer, that it was not lawful for man to eat flesh before the deluge, but that the natural fruits of the earth were his only food. But the argument is not sufficiently firm. For I hold to this principle; that God here does not bestow on men more... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 9:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 9:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 9:3

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