Noach 9:6 · unit 2

TT #52 · Parashas Noach · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 9:6

The Complete Passuk

…כִּ֚י בְּצֶ֣לֶם אֱלֹהִ֔ים עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הָאָדָֽם׃

…for in the image of God He made man.

Torah Temimah elaborates the reason for the severity of murder — the divine image.

Core Text

כִּי בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם — מִשּׁוּם הָכִי חֲמוּרָה שְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים, שֶׁהַהוֹרֵג אֶת הָאָדָם מְמַעֵט אֶת הַדְּמוּת וְהַצֶּלֶם.

English: “For in the image of God He made man” — therefore murder is so severe: one who kills a human diminishes the likeness and the image.

Custom (theological ground for the severity of murder).

Murder is uniquely grave because it reduces the presence of the divine image in the world.