Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 9:6/אבן עזרא על בראשית ט׳:ו׳
אוטעם באדם בעדים או לעיני הכל או בעבור האדם שנשפך דמו וכמוהו רבים:
1[WHOSO SHEDDETH MAN’S BLOOD, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED.] This is a further elaboration.12. God will see to it that the murderers will somehow be killed by another person (Filwarg). It may also be taken, and this appears most likely, as a command to the sons of Noah to execute murderers. The term ba-adam (by man) can be interpreted in one of three ways: in front of witnesses;13 meaning in front of; ba-adam, in front of people, i.e. witnesses or in public. The verse thus reads, Whoso sheddeth man’s blood before witnesses (or before many people), his blood shall be shed. in front of people; or because a man was killed. There are many other such instances.14 to mean because (Krinsky). The verse thus reads, Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, because he killed a man, his blood shall be shed.