Genesis 9:5

5. And surely In the original, Genesis 9:4-5 both commence with the particle, אךְ , except, or but, which introduces two stringent prohibitions supplementary to the liberty granted in Genesis 9:2; Genesis 3:1) The life, or blood of the animal, is never to be used as food . 2) The life of man is to be held sacred,

Blood of your lives Rather Your blood, for your lives, (in requital for them,) will I require, (seek for, demand . ) A command sternly guarding the life of man .

At the hand of every beast Beasts should be killed that endanger the life of man, (Exodus 21:28,) for the animal creation exists for man. By this precept the sacredness of human life is impressively declared.

At the hand of every man’s brother The brotherhood of man is the foundation of this precept. The beast is man’s servant made for him but man, wherever met, of whatever race or condition, is his brother. How completely this strikes at the root of national pride, at the aristocracy of family or race! Man’s life is to be sacred simply because he is a man, a brother, God’s image. The Noachian precept is the germ of the Pauline declaration uttered in the ears of the proud Athenians, amid the very glories of Greek civilization, God “hath made of one blood all nations of men.” Acts 17:26.