A Chiasm in Genesis 9 around Eating Blood

A chiasm in Genesis 9 surrounds death and the abuse of life with promises of life and blessing. Perhaps the purpose of this arrangement is to say that, if you want to live a long, productive life with lots of children and joy in the the things that God has given you, start by respecting those gifts as well as the people around you.


  • V1 – Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth
    • V2 – All moving things delivered into the hand of man
      • V3 – All living things given to man
        • V4 – Don’t eat blood
      • V5 – God requires a reckoning for the life of man
    • V6 – Man delivered into the hands of man
  • V7 – Be fruitful and multiply, increase in the earth
Or to put it in more narrative terms...

"Go fill the world so you can manage it. To help you, I've given you these resources, but if anyone takes a life that I have not put under your authority, you are to take his life. Did you hear me? I'm giving you authority over all of these lives, but if any of you go beyond that, I will revoke your authority even over your own life. Don't bring blood guilt on yourselves, whether by murder of another human or by eating the blood of an animal." -God

1 comment:

  1. Your explanation is good. I would add to that, don't vaccinate yourselves or your children with human or animal blood if you want to keep your ability to multiply.

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