Re: Genesis 9:1-4 - A Commentary on God's Concession to Eat Flesh by Frank L. Hoffman
As a vegetarian who believes that no being should have to suffer & die to satisfy my desires for pleasures of the flesh, I am deeply troubled by Genesis 9.
I have looked at many different interpretations of this passage because it is difficult for me to believe that God gave man permission to kill & eat animals.
I found this version:
New Life Version:
2 Every animal of the earth, every bird of the sky, everything that moves on the ground, and all the fish of the sea will be afraid of you. They are given into your hand.
3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. I give all to you as I gave you the green plants.
4 But you must not eat meat with blood in it because that is its life.
5 For sure, I will take the life of every animal and every person for taking a life. I will punish every man's brother for taking the life of man.
Here it says that blood is life. therefore we can substitute the word "blood" with the word "life".
Then the passage reads: But you must not eat meat with life in it.............5 For sure, I will take the life of every animal and every person for taking a life.
Could God be telling man not to kill (take the life). If an animal dies, it is then ok to eat it, but do not take the animals life because you want to eat it.
I am a vegetarian by choice. My pleasure will not be paid for by the pain & misery & death of another being.
I think that the Bible has been corrupted to support the killing of animals for pleasure.
If I can choose not to eat animals, and I am not perfect, why would God think that Man can not make this choice and therefore make this concession?
RAYMOND D. BARTA
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