Texts in Conversation
Genesis 9:6 defines the worth of human life as being made in the image of God. Rabbinic tradition in Pirkei Avot draws on this to teach that all of humanity is loved by God because everyone is created in that image.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Genesis 9:6
Hebrew Bible
5 For your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment. From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative. 6 “Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed; for in God’s image God has made humankind. 7 “But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; increase abundantly on the earth and multiply on it.”
Pirkei Avot 3:14
Mishnah
Rabbinic
13 Rabbi Akiva said:Merriment and frivolity accustom one to sexual licentiousness; Tradition is a fence to the Torah; Tithes a fence to wealth, Vows a fence to abstinence; A fence to wisdom is silence. 14 He used to say: Beloved is man for he was created in the image [of God]. Especially beloved is he for it was made known to him that he had been created in the image [of God], as it is said: “for in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6). Beloved are Israel in that they were called children to the All-Present. Especially beloved are they for it was made known to them that they are called children of the All-Present, as it is said: “you are children to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1). Beloved are Israel in that a precious vessel was given to them. Especially beloved are they for it was made known to them that the desirable instrument, with which the world had been created, was given to them, as it is said: “for I give you good instruction; forsake not my teaching” (Proverbs 4:2). 15 Everything is foreseen yet freedom of choice is granted, And the world is judged with goodness; And everything is in accordance with the preponderance of works.
Date: 190-230 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
"... In Avot 3:14, Akiva moves from a general divine love for humanity to a specific love for Israel. This love is amplified in the revelation embodied in Torah. This description of love has a tripartite shape. First there is the act of love in not just creating humanity but also endowing humanity with the image of God. This love is even greater by making humanity aware of its creation in the divine image. While Genesis 1:26 records this creation, only in Genesis 9:6 does God reveal the divine image to humanity when God speaks to Noah after the Flood. Given that this revelation was prior to God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants who were to become Israel, this revelation of the divine image in which humanity was created was made known to all humanity. This is especially the case since according to Genesis it was the children of Noah who repopulated the earth. ..."
Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Daniel
The More Torah, The More Life: A Christian Commentary on Mishnah Avot
(p. 184) Peeters, 2018
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.