The two possessive pronouns “your” emphasize the value of man’s life, nephesh, in the sight of Heaven. God would personally concern Himself with avenging the shedding of human blood, as is implied by the words, “will I require,” literally, “search after,” with a view to punishment.

 The life of man was made secure against animals as well as against other men by a solemn proclamation of the sanctity of human life. The statute that a beast which slew a man should be destroyed was later incorporated into the Mosaic code (Ex. 21:28–32). This command was not given by way of punishing the murderous beast, which is not under moral law and so cannot sin, but for the safety of men.

 This warning is directed against suicide and homicide. God requires the man who takes his own life as well as the one who takes the life of his fellow man to give an account of his act. The commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” is so wide in its implications that every kind of shortening or taking of life is prohibited. Man cannot give life and has therefore no right to take it, unless required to do so by a divine command. No one in possession of his mental and moral faculties, and thus responsible for his acts, can escape God’s retribution, not even the man who lays hand on himself. At the resurrection every individual will have to appear before the judgment seat of God to receive his reward (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10).