Human Life in Genesis 9:4

Life is presently understood to include animal life, which understanding is also reinforced by science. Due to this orientation, most believers consider the forbidden  "meat with blood still in it" as referring only to "any" animal meat. 

Also, the exclusion of human meat became inherent in this belief as it is ordinary for preachers to believe that nobody will eat "human meat", even if "human blood" is no longer on it. 

In the previous article entitled Prohibited Meat and Immorality, a question was asked whether not not the word "life" stated in Genesis 9:4 refers only to "human" life to the exclusion of "animal" life. For immediate reference, the verse is restated, to wit;

4The one thing you must not eat is meat with blood still in it. I forbid this because the life is in the blood.(Genesis 9:4, TEV)

Considering the importance of each and every word in the verse in the interpretation, then let's dig deeper on the meaning of life in the statement. This is important because if "life" refers only to "human" life then correspondingly, the meat and blood being stated in the same verse would only refer to "human" or, in case, it refers to animal life then the meat and blood would refer only to animal, or to both, as the case maybe.

Since verse 4 does not specifically mention what kind meat, blood and life are being referred in the prohibition, it becomes necessary to review the accompanying verses in order to be sure on the thoughts of the One who spoke. The accompanying verses are as follows:

2All the animals, birds and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. 3Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food. 4The one thing you must not eat is meat with blood still in it. I forbid this because the life is in the blood. 5If anyone takes human life, he will be punished. I will punish with death any animal that takes a human life. (Genesis 9:3-5, TEV).

Immediately after verse 4, verse 5, which is very helpful in the determination of the scope of the former, whether or not animal life is impliedly intended in it, only mentions "life" by stating human life twice, for emphasis, but without expressly mentioning any animal life, as follows: 

5If anyone takes human life, he will be punished. I will punish with death any animal that takes a human life. (Genesis 9:5, TEV).

Upon the other hand, the preceding verses 2 and 3 mention animals as food. Technically, foods have no life. They are intended to sustain human life.

2All the animals, birds and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. 3Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food.

Preceding premises considered, the "life", which is stated in verse 4, would only refer to human life to the exclusion of animal life. Otherwise, there would be a gross inconsistency of verse 4 to verses 2 and 3 and verse 5. That being so, it follows that the meat and blood, which are stated in the same verse (verse 4), would only refer to human. Therefore, the prohibition is logically "eating human meat with human blood still in it", which is equivalent to "sexually" eating human meat as in "oral sex".

If one would try to interpret the word "life" as inclusive of animal life, then, for purposes of consistency, verse 2, 3 and 5 can be amended verses, at the reader's risk, as follows:

2All the birds and fish will live in fear of you. They are all placed under your power. 3Now you can eat them, as well as green plants; I give them all to you for food. (Note: animal was deleted)

5If anyone takes human and/or animal life , he will be punished. I will punish with death any animal that takes a human and/or animal life. (Genesis 9:5TEV).(Note: animal was added)

Therefore, without amending the verses, logically, life that is being stated in verse 4 refers only to human life.

Click to The Oral Sex Theory to have a comprehensive understanding of life.