Blood Vengeance and the Imago Dei in the Flood Narrative (Genesis 9:6). (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wilson, Stephen M.
• Is Part Of: Interpretation. Volume 71:Number 3(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 263
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Biblical violence -- Blood -- Capital punishment -- Creation -- Genesis, book of -- Image of God -- Imago Dei -- Flood narrative -- Nonviolence -- Vengeance; Theology -- Periodicals; 230.04105
• DOI: 10.1177/0020964317698762
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-9643

Abstract

In recent years, scholars have argued that God's creation of humanity in the divine image (Gen 1:26–28) presents a model of nonviolence that counters and contextualizes the more problematic depictions of violence throughout the Hebrew Bible. However, this nonviolent reading of humanity created in God's image rarely considers the mention of this concept at the conclusion of the flood narrative in Gen 9:6. This article applies the two key exegetical principles used in the nonviolent reading of the Priestly creation story—human imitation of God and the royal-functional reading of the divine image—to the flood narrative, and concludes that, rather than rejecting violence, the concept of humanity's creation in God's image justifies retributive violence.