Genesis 9:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the same way that Adam, despite being granted access to everything, received a divine command to refrain from one specific tree, here also, while permitting the use of all creation, the Lord states, "Only the flesh with its soul, with its blood, you shall not eat." What is the significance of this statement? What does "flesh with its soul, with its blood" represent? It signifies that which has been strangled, for the blood is considered the essence of the creature. Thus, as the faithful were to present offerings to God in due time, it seems He imparts this guidance: the blood is for Me, while the meat is for you. This directive is given to curb the inherent tendency within them to take human life. The truth of this command and God's purpose to guide humanity toward gentleness can be further understood through the following words.

You must not consume the flesh along with its life, which is in the blood; this means you are prohibited from eating any animal that has not been slaughtered properly until the lifeblood has been drained. In this way, the Lord establishes three agreements with Noah and his descendants: firstly, He instructs them to refrain from consuming the blood of animals.

The law brought this truth into sharper focus, as it states, "What is soul in man, blood in the inanimate" (Leviticus 17:11). Consequently, consuming meat without blood is akin to eating it as one would consume vegetables, given that vegetables are lifeless; however, when meat is consumed with blood, one is partaking of the soul. Thus, it is affirmed here, "Let not the meat in the blood of the soul be eaten. I will take your blood, I will take your souls; from the hand of every beast I will take it: and from the hand of man his brother I will take his souls" (Genesis 9:4-5).

The Holy Scriptures affirm the promise of bodily resurrection. After the flood, God addressed Noah, stating, “I have given you all things as a herbal potion. But the meat in the blood of your souls you shall not eat. And of the blood of your souls will I take it out of the hand of every beast: and of the hand of every man his brother will I take it out. He that sheddeth man's blood, into his place shall he shed it: for in the image of God have I made man” (Gen. 9:3-6). How else will He remove the blood of humanity from the grasp of the beasts, if not by resurrecting those who have died? For the animals do not perish in place of humanity.

The flesh along with its life source, specifically the blood, is not to be consumed. While God has granted humanity mastery over animals, He establishes boundaries through this command, thereby asserting His authority over mankind itself. This teaching is reiterated in the laws presented to Moses (Lev. 17:10-14, Deut. 12:23) and is echoed in the New Testament (Acts 15:20). Examining these recurring commandments alongside the initial ones reveals a comprehensive prohibition against the consumption of blood in all its forms whenever it can be extracted. The rationale for this prohibition also becomes evident through similar examinations.

In permitting the consumption of animals, God places limitations by prohibiting the intake of their blood. It's not merely stated, "You shall not consume meat with blood," but rather "with the blood of the soul." This is because "the soul of the flesh is in the blood" (Lev. 17:11), signifying that blood is the core and primary source of the soul's activity, essential for the manifestation of life within the soul. Thus, when blood ceases to flow and sustain the brain, the life of the soul within the body comes to an end. The practice of consuming meat with blood is forbidden, a custom still observed by some indigenous peoples in certain regions, who may cut pieces of flesh from a living animal and consume them like wild beasts.