The Meaning of Genesis 9:6 Explained

Genesis 9:6

KJV: Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

YLT: whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man is his blood shed: for in the image of God hath He made man.

Darby: Whoso sheddeth Man's blood, by Man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God he hath made Man.

ASV: Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whoso sheddeth  man's  blood,  by man  shall his blood  be shed:  for in the image  of God  made  he man. 

What does Genesis 9:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 9:1-17 - God's Covenant With Noah
As the human race started afresh on its career, God blessed it, as at the first. God always stands with us in a new start. The prohibition against the use of blood in food is often repeated. See Leviticus 17:11; Acts 15:29. In a very deep sense, the blood is the life. When we speak of being redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we mean that we have been saved by His sacrificed life. The blood maketh atonement for the soul. But while animal life might be used for food or sacrifice, human life was surrounded by the most solemn sanctions. A Covenant is a promise or undertaking resting on certain conditions, with a sign or token attached to it. The bow in the cloud, the Lord's Supper, the wedding ring are signs and seals of their respective covenants. Never witness a rainbow without remembering that as God hath sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so He will not withdraw His kindness. See Isaiah 54:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 9

1  God blesses Noah and his sons, and grants them flesh for food
4  Blood and murder are forbidden
8  God's covenant, of which the rainbow was constituted a pledge
18  Noah's family replenishes the world
20  Noah plants a vineyard,
21  Is drunken, and mocked by his son;
25  Curses Canaan;
26  Blesses Shem;
27  Prays for Japheth, and dies

What do the individual words in Genesis 9:6 mean?

Whoever sheds the blood of man by man his blood shall be shed for in the image of God He made - man
שֹׁפֵךְ֙ דַּ֣ם הָֽאָדָ֔ם בָּֽאָדָ֖ם דָּמ֣וֹ יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ כִּ֚י בְּצֶ֣לֶם אֱלֹהִ֔ים עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־ הָאָדָֽם

שֹׁפֵךְ֙  Whoever  sheds 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׂפֶק 
Sense: to pour, pour out, spill.
דַּ֣ם  the  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
הָֽאָדָ֔ם  of  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בָּֽאָדָ֖ם  by  man 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
דָּמ֣וֹ  his  blood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּם  
Sense: blood.
יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ  shall  be  shed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שֶׂפֶק 
Sense: to pour, pour out, spill.
בְּצֶ֣לֶם  in  the  image 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צֶלֶם 
Sense: image.
אֱלֹהִ֔ים  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עָשָׂ֖ה  He  made 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָדָֽם  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.