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Selected Verse: Genesis 9:4 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ge 9:4	Strong Concordance	But [0389] flesh [01320] with the life [05315] thereof, which is the blood [01818] thereof, shall ye not eat [0398].
	King James	But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
But flesh . . . the blood . . . shall ye not eat--The sole intention of this prohibition was to prevent these excesses of cannibal ferocity in eating flesh of living animals, to which men in the earlier ages of the world were liable.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

But flesh . . . the blood . . . shall ye not eat--The sole intention of this prohibition was to prevent these excesses of cannibal ferocity in eating flesh of living animals, to which men in the earlier ages of the world were liable.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat - Blood made atonement for the soul, Lev 17:11. The life of the sacrifice was accepted for the life of the sinner. Blood must not be looked upon as a common thing, but must be poured out before the Lord, Sa2 23:16. Mr. Henry indeed has a strange conceit, That this is only a prohibition to eat flesh. This does such apparent violence to the text, that to mention it, is sufficient.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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 was prohibited, as we find above; and, being one of the seven Noahic precepts, it was not eaten previously to the publication of the Mosaic law. 3. At the giving of the law, and at several times during the ministry of Moses, the prohibition was most solemnly, and with awful penalties renewed. Hence we may rest assured that no blood was eaten previously to the Christian era, nor indeed ever since by the Jewish people. 4. That the prohibition has been renewed under the Christian dispensation, can admit of little doubt by any man who dispassionately reads Act 15:20, Act 15:29; Act 21:25, where even the Gentile converts are charged to abstain from it on the authority, not only of the apostles, but of the Holy Ghost, who gave them there and then especial direction concerning this point; see Act 15:28; not for fear of stumbling the converted Jews, the gloss of theologians, but because it was one των επαναγκες τουτων, of those necessary points, from the burden (βαρος) of obedience to which they could not be excused. 5. This command is still scrupulously obeyed by the oriental Christians, and by the whole Greek Church; and why? because the reasons still subsist. No blood was eaten under the law, because it pointed out the blood that was to be shed for the sin of the world; and under the Gospel it should not be eaten, because it should ever be considered as representing the blood which has been shed for the remission of sins. If the eaters of blood in general knew that it affords a very crude, almost indigestible, and unwholesome ailment, they certainly would not on these physical reasons, leaving moral considerations out of the question, be so much attached to the consumption of that from which they could expect no wholesome nutriment, and which, to render it even pleasing to the palate, requires all the skill of the cook. See Lev 17:10.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

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 was prohibited, as we find above; and, being one of the seven Noahic precepts, it was not eaten previously to the publication of the Mosaic law. 3. At the giving of the law, and at several times during the ministry of Moses, the prohibition was most solemnly, and with awful penalties renewed. Hence we may rest assured that no blood was eaten previously to the Christian era, nor indeed ever since by the Jewish people. 4. That the prohibition has been renewed under the Christian dispensation, can admit of little doubt by any man who dispassionately reads Act 15:20, Act 15:29; Act 21:25, where even the Gentile converts are charged to abstain from it on the authority, not only of the apostles, but of the Holy Ghost, who gave them there and then especial direction concerning this point; see Act 15:28; not for fear of stumbling the converted Jews, the gloss of theologians, but because it was one των επαναγκες τουτων, of those necessary points, from the burden (βαρος) of obedience to which they could not be excused. 5. This command is still scrupulously obeyed by the oriental Christians, and by the whole Greek Church; and why? because the reasons still subsist. No blood was eaten under the law, because it pointed out the blood that was to be shed for the sin of the world; and under the Gospel it should not be eaten, because it should ever be considered as representing the blood which has been shed for the remission of sins. If the eaters of blood in general knew that it affords a very crude, almost indigestible, and unwholesome ailment, they certainly would not on these physical reasons, leaving moral considerations out of the question, be so much attached to the consumption of that from which they could expect no wholesome nutriment, and which, to render it even pleasing to the palate, requires all the skill of the cook. See Lev 17:10.

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¹⁶ And the three [07969] mighty men [01368] brake through [01234] the host [04264] of the Philistines [06430], and drew [07579] water [04325] out of the well [0953] of Bethlehem [01035], that was by the gate [08179], and took [05375] it, and brought [0935] it to David [01732]: nevertheless he would [014] not drink [08354] thereof, but poured it out [05258] unto the LORD [03068].

¹¹ For the life [05315] of the flesh [01320] is in the blood [01818]: and I have given [05414] it to you upon the altar [04196] to make an atonement [03722] for your souls [05315]: for it is the blood [01818] that maketh an atonement [03722] for the soul [05315].

¹⁰ And whatsoever man [0376] there be of the house [01004] of Israel [03478], or of the strangers [01616] that sojourn [01481] among [08432] you, that eateth [0398] any manner of blood [01818]; I will even set [05414] my face [06440] against that soul [05315] that eateth [0398] blood [01818], and will cut him off [03772] from among [07130] his people [05971].

²⁸ For [1063] it seemed good [1380] to the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] to us [2254], to lay upon [2007] you [5213] no [3367] greater [4119] burden [922] than [4133] these [5130] necessary things [1876];

²⁵ As [1161] touching [4012] the Gentiles [1484] which believe [4100], we [2249] have written [1989] and concluded [2919] that they [846] observe [5083] no [3367] such thing [5108], save only [1508] that they keep [5442] themselves [846] from [5037] things offered to idols [1494], and [2532] from blood [129], and [2532] from strangled [4156], and [2532] from fornication [4202].

²⁹ That ye abstain [567] from meats offered to idols [1494], and [2532] from blood [129], and [2532] from things strangled [4156], and [2532] from fornication [4202]: from [1537] which [3739] if ye keep [1301] yourselves [1438], ye shall do [4238] well [2095]. Fare ye well [4517].

²⁰ But [235] that we write [1989] unto them [846], that they abstain [567] from [575] pollutions [234] of idols [1497], and [2532] from fornication [4202], and [2532] from things strangled [4156], and [2532] from blood [129].