And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
I will definitely hold everyone accountable for taking human life. I will demand justice from any animal that kills a person, and from any human being who kills another person—even from someone's own brother or relative.
God is declaring that He will hold both animals and people accountable for taking human life, emphasizing that murder is a serious offense that requires justice.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes right after the great flood when God was establishing His covenant with Noah and his family. God was laying down fundamental laws for the new world, including the sanctity of human life. This was one of the first recorded divine commands about justice and accountability after humanity's fresh start.
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